Gov’t Injunction Stalls Kossala Market Project

-Mayor pleads for mercy

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Kumba II Mayor, Ndobengang Martin Forcha

The Mayor of Kumba II council has revealed that he is on his knees begging government to intervene on the protracted land dispute between the council and some land owners at the Kosala neighbourhood on the site to host the construction of the Kosala modern market.

            Martin Forcha Ndobegang who doubles as the Southwest Regional Chairman of the Social Democratic Party made the appeal at the Kumba II council chambers recently during a briefing to reporters on the reasons for the snail’s pace realisation of the market project in Kosala.

            Mayor Forcha told reporters that the work on the construction site has been stopped due to the injunction placed on the land by the Meme High Court as ordered by Mr.KamgaKabiwaEsae, one of the persons who owns a parcel of land on the chosen site.

            He revealed from 2012-2013, many people who owned land in the area were compensated but for Mr.Kamga whose evaluation was done later and an expropriation order was signed declaring the land as public utility by the Minister of State Property and Land Tenure.

            Mayor Forcha indicated that a Ministerial decision of February 20, 2017 had declared the said parcel of land for public utility to be exploited by the council adding that the same ministerial decision gave the council a period of two years to exploit the said land else it will be given back to its original owners.

            According Mayor Forcha, it is surprising that eight months after the minister’s decision, Mr.Kamga has decided to dragged on with the case to the extent of taking the council to court adding that two months after the legal action was embarked on by the aggrieved owner, an injunction was implanted on the said land where forty stalls are supposed to be constructed.

            Mayor Forchareiterated that going by the decision of the minister of State Property and Land Tenure, the said Mr.KamgaKabiwaEsae, ceased to be owner of the piece of land since February 2017.

Kamga dribbles Meme SDO, Battles Mayor

            In an attempt to solve the land dispute, the Mayor revealed the SDO for Meme, Chamberlin Ntou’ouNdong summoned both parties at his office chambers to explain to Kamga the decision of the Minister and to ask the council to pay him compensation that stood at FCFA 2.71 million. Mayor Forcha revealed Mr.Kamga refused the above amount demanding FCFA 3 million.

            Forcha added he was advised by the SDO to pay the 3 million demanded by Kamga considering the importance of the project but when the money was brought Kamga refused asking another amount that stood at 3.5 million frs. He said few weeks after the council brought the 3.5 million Kamga told the SDO he was no longer interested in the said amount and that he wanted to take the matter to court.

Fine looms on Contractor within 21 days, credit card at stake

            The Mayor revealed the contract controllers in the midst of the imbroglio have given the contractor 21 days for the commencement of work else he risk been fined but pleaded that the contractor should be pitied since the injunction hasn’t been lifted by the court. In the same light he noted that FEICOM is also threatening to withdraw the credit card of the project following the delays since the projected was awarded to be executed in three months which has already elapsed.

Hidden hands of politicians?

            Quizzed if he believes Mr.Kamga’s refusal to collect the compensation is as a result of some hidden hands of his political opponents considering the fact that Kumba II is the bastion of the SDF opposition party in Kumba Mayor Forcha noted he doesn’t want to think it is politically motivated because when they were elected in 2013, they promised to talk and do development politics.

Meme SDO Dares Court Injunction, Orders Construction to continue

            This weekend at the Kumba II council during the first ordinary council session to examine and adopt the council’s 2017 administrative, management at sores account on Friday April 20, 2017, the Lord Mayor Forcha Martin revealed in a chat with the SDO on Thursday April 19, the administrator instructed him to ask the contractor to continue with constructions at the site even without lifting of the court injunction.