Martin A. Nkemngu
12 March 2009
History has it that Bafoussam became the headquarters of the West Province (now Region) in 1963 replacing Dschang in that status. At that time the town enjoyed the status as a road junction town which served as a melting-pot for travellers to Yaounde, Douala, Dschang, Bamenda and Foumban. It was not long when the town developed to become considered as the third city after Yaounde and Douala.
Up till 1980 Bafoussam grew rapidly and was adorned with tarred clean streets, lighting and clean pipe-borne water. When the town was selected to host in 1980 the famous agro-pastoral show and the Cameroon National Union (CNU) party congress, all was done to give it a face lift that made it the envy of all and sundry. Buildings were constructed with due respect for plan by urban authorities; streets were created without obstruction through the heart of the town.
Then came the economic crisis of the late 80s and the reintroduction of multiparty democracy in the 90s. The fortunes of Bafoussam began to dwindle. Today, the capital town is a mere shadow of itself. With three municipal councils, the town is far from asserting itself as the third most important city of Cameroon. If anything, it looks like a place with dashed hopes. As one arrives the town one is greeted with huge columns of rising brown dust or slimy dark brown mounts of mud, depending on the season.
Driving through the streets is a nightmarish experience as one crawl in and out of large gaping potholes. The roofs of corrugated iron sheets and the walls of buildings along the streets have gained a permanent brown coating that have become the identity of the city.
Taxis plying the streets are laden with dust while hundreds of motor-cycle riders, "benskineurs" who flood the streets constitute more a source of insecurity than a means of transportation. The "moto-taxi" business is so popular that even women are often found transporting passengers. Here and there, one hears screaming women whose handbags might have been snatched by "benskineurs".
Apart from these physical obstacles, Bafoussam is afflicted by other woes. While other urban towns in the country have weathered the storm of the economic crisis and underdevelopment, this town has had the misfortune of not having been endowed with a leadership with vision. Internal wranglings and political rivalry have constituted a major setback for the development of the town.
The elite of the region have been unwilling to join forces for the development of the town. Development projects have some times been bugged down for many years because of selfish interests of individuals. A case in point is the project of the construction of a football stadium which has been delayed for several years because of disagreements among the stakeholders.
Indiscipline, irresponsible behaviour and the lack of community spirit have made it hard to instil order in the town. Hawkers, market women and petty traders lay their wares just anywhere along the streets without any respect for authority or hygiene.
Perhaps all is not lost. A new government delegate has just been appointed to direct the affairs of this once beautiful city. If he has a clear vision of what to do, if he can rally the people behind him, if the inhabitants are prepared to cooperate with him, may be Bafoussam should reflect the dynamism and the entrepreneurial spirit of the people of the West Region.
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