By Mathias Akoa Tah

The early days in the month of September has been a very ugly one for citizens in Bamenda, the regional capital of the Northwest region of Cameroon. Businesses and homes have been ruined by heavy rains which have often come during very active periods of the day.

Recently, two kids were reported by The Empire Group Corporation, https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CU9C6KYLX/ the company in charge of waste management in the city, to have been swept away by a flooded stream while trying to discard waste in a fast running stream.

Another sad incident took places a week later that involved young a man trying to cross the always flooded waste compacted bridge at city chemist. This stream has on several occasions swept vehicles and properties away.

THE ROOT CAUSE

While many attributes this sad happenings to the heavy down pours , it should be noted that, that isn’t the only reason. The three dead are tied to another common, despicable reason that is the results of negligence and lack of efforts from local authorities to address them.

It is well known that the City Chemist Bridge is unfortunately the worst and dirtiest bridge in town, after the Mobile Nkwen and Miss Ngeng junction.

This particular bridge has been overwhelmed with tons of waste over the years, becoming a dumping site for businesses in the area.
Although some expansion work and cleanup efforts have been made, the recent and most unfortunate incident shows that much more needs to be done.

The waste management system in the town is seriously an ugly thing to talk about. The city lacks proper waste collection points which leaves citizens with no choice than to dump in streams, streets, and farmlands.

CALL TO ACTION
The incident at the city chemist bridge, doubles the call for the entire bridge to be demolished and raised above its current level.
Citizens prevented from dumping waste there and in other streams, and the council establish official dumpsites for locals and businesses

Proper measures should be taken, otherwise, even a newly rebuilt bridge will flood if waste continues to be dumped in our streams.