There has been an increase in communal tax for trucks loading sand in Douala.

Sand diggers based in the different council areas in Douala have been levied a tax to be paid to the council were they are based. The issue has raised discomfort among the sand diggers. Talking to the president of the sand diggers who is in charge of the sand digging centres in Bois de singes, Bonapriso and Youpwe, Jean de Dieu Silanous, he said, the Mayor of the Douala II Council, Denise Fampou has imposed an amount of FCFA 1500 to be paid for each truck that comes for loading.

Because of this, he said the workers got angry and went on a strike. He said they disagreed with the new tax because they already paid enough taxes to the council and there is no reason for an extra sum to be imposed on them. The president said some weak drivers had already started paying the money before they went on a rampage. He added that there are many letters which the Mayor has sent to him convening a meeting but he has turned down all. He said he does not know if the other sand digging in different centres equally paid such taxes.

As for the sand diggers based in Douala I around Akwa Nord, they said some impostors came to them in the name of councillors to announce the tax on sand trucks. Beside the fact that the people were taken for cheats, they said they did not understand the norms of what was being instituted. They said the matter has been reported to the gendarmes and they are still waiting for a feedback. It is only the mayor they said who can state what he wants because they would not allow mayors to wake up from their beds and impose any kind of fair without their consent.