Yaounde:

660 low cost houses handed to gov’t

By Nche Jude Mbah in Yaounde

Some 660 low cost houses and developed land at Olembe in the outskirts of Yaounde have been temporary received by the Minister of housing and urban development, Jean CluadeMbenchou.

                Flanked by his colleague of State Property and Land Tenure, Madam Koung A Bessike, Minister Mbouenchou expressed satisfaction at the job done by the Chinese contractors.

                Constructed with money borrowed from China, the Olembe social housing project is part of governments program to construct over 1000 low cost houses in Cameroon. It comes in the wake of difficulties faced by Cameroonians especially civil servants and business owners in big towns to afford comfortable lodging facilities.

                These 660 low cost structures received by the Minister of Urban development brought to 1520 the total number of low cost houses constructed in Cameroon precisely in the towns of Yaounde, Douala, Limbe, Baffoussam, Bamenda and Sangmelima with a budget of 33 billion CFAF, with the Cameroon government providing just 15% of the cost.

                Added to the completed houses at the Olembe site is a health center, a government primary school, a commercial center, a water purification point, a vast road network and solar street light.

                According to Minister Mbouenchou, every Cameroonian is eligible to own one of the houses provided they are able to meet with the terms of acquisition. 

                Observing that lack of water and electricity is a major drawback at the site, the minister said instructions have been given to the enterprises concerned to take urgent measures to make available these indispensible necessities.

                Noting that the magnificent structures are ready for use, the minister however prayed potential occupants to be patient and give time for amenities like water, electricity and telephone to be connected.

He disclosed that any average Cameroonian with ability to pay his or her rent can occupy any of the houses, also noting that equity, gender, civil service employment and youths will be given priority.

                Apart from Yaounde, the Housing Minister also visited low-cost housing sites in other regions to see for himself what has been done so far.

                Yet, as the so called low cost houses are getting ready for grabs, it is feared that the average civil servant will not be able to afford it especially given the high price tags put on the houses and the low salary scale practiced in Cameroon.