Bonaberi Residents Grapple with Floods…

The people complain that the council pays little attention to their plight.

Bonaberi happens to be one of the largest neighbourhoods in Douala which harbours a huge population. It is the gate way into Douala for commuters to and fro the Southern parts of Douala. The position the neighbourhood occupies therefore makes it boom in business and full of life. Unfortunately, the town has very poor road infrastructures. The Bonaberi old road which used to be the main road used by residents and also by those who flock into and out of Douala has been ruined with many potholes which keep standing water when it rains.

A new road was constructed but it is almost attaining the same degradation level. Besides bad roads, the neighbourhood suffers from poor drainage which causes most of the houses in this part of the town to be soaked when it rains heavily. A flood, especially during the rainy season is not uncommon. The residents have complained that these sad effects hinder their business from growing. When it rains, thousands of families are literally cut off from the rest of the town. The foot paths are covered with water. Only one road leads into the neighbourhood. There are no alleys linking smaller parts of the neighbourhood.

At Besseke, CT caught up with the chief of “Putor-Putor” neighbourhood, M. George
Ekoko, who said that area got its name from the muddy state of the road when it rains. He said the road that leads to the residential area is usually covered with water when it rains. He added that water gets to the knee level. He said people cannot go out of their houses because they have no paths to use to get to the highway. “This makes work and business very difficult”. Ekoko said as the road stretches on it reduces in width and becomes a foot path.

Nevertheless, he said cars use the road and some trucks. These trucks contribute in damaging the roads especially when it rains as they make it muddier. From time to time, the residents contribute money to fill the potholes, said he. Closed to the highway, is a drainage gutter which has been clogged with dirt and harbours standing water. Ekoko said when they contribute money they try to clear the drainage. It helps channel water and reduces the water level by about 50 Per cent, he added. So far, he said they have been contributing money to maintain the roads. However, he attributed the task of constructing new roads in the neighbourhood to the council and the government.

At Mabanda which is like a town of its own, the story is not different. There is also one road which is not tarred that leads into the area. There, there is a big market. But there are difficulties to get in and come out of the area because of the poor infrastructure.
Some Mabanda residents have reclaimed land to build their homes. They carry soil from Bikoko, and Miselele to fill up the water reservoirs and build their houses. As such,they are not free from floods.

EFFA TAMBENKONGHO