Ahead of Women’s AFCON:

CAMWATER to take over Mile-4 community water project

By Nwo-Fuanya in Limbe

The peripheral and densely populated community of Bonadikombo-Mile 4 in Limbe is still to come to terms with the dramatic circumstances under which the Community Water Project is to be transferred to the Cameroon Water Utilities Company, CAMWATER.

                The decision was announced by the SDO for Fako, Zang III on Thursday 23 June during a crisis meeting he convened to look into the Bonadikombo Community Water Management crisis. It emerged from the meeting that for quite sometime now, here has been a raging tussle in the management of the Bonadikombo community water which was constructed several years ago.

                The tussle pits the chief of the community, EssombeNanyowe and others like Kontchou Emmanuel who sometimes ago were co-opted by the Fako SDO to manage the water.

                As a result of the infighting, the quality and quantity of water produced and distributed has significantly dropped, leaving the people of Bondikombo on the verge of water borne diseases.

                Also, the water catchments at Ewongo, Wotutu and Bonadikombo have been invaded, and houses and toilets constructed around it; pipes and storage facilities have depleted and huge sums of money have been collected from the population for one reason or the other.

                Given the spectre of the problem, the SDO for Fako told all the stakeholders at the crisis meeting that water is first and foremost a natural resource that is owned by the state which protects it in the supreme interest of its citizens. Zang III added that the state allowed the community to manage the water because it did not pose any problem.

                But things have changed so drastically. The first problem is that the population of Bonadikombo has grown exponentially over the past few years, meaning that measures must be taken to increase the quality and quantity of water supplied.

                Another issue is the fact that the community has proven beyond reasonable doubt that it can no longer manage the water. The recurrent infighting and poor services only endanger the lives of the population by exposing them to diseases like cholera.

                Above all, Limbe is bracing up to host the Female African Cup of Nations this year. As such many people from all parts of Africa and the world will be streaming into Limbe. This means that measures must be taken to ensure that amenities such as water are safe for consumption.

                Corroborating the SDO, the Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Andrew MotangaMonjimba said amenities such as drinking water should not be managed with tribal sentiments as is the case now. He said Bonadikombo is cosmopolitan with people from all parts of Cameroon living there.

                One of the denizens of the area, AjohMukete said the chief of Mile 4, EssombeNanyowe and his court have been extorting huge sums of money from the community in the name of water management. Mukete said the community welcomes the decision of the administration to bring in CAMWATER to take over the management.

                Barrister Mcdeba also moved that an audit be conducted before a transitional management committee is put in place. Kontchou Emmanuel, another resident expressed joy that the state has finally stepped in to redress the situation. He said the decision of the state is final and should be respected by all.

                The SDO for Fako, Zang III said at the meeting that he will visit the area and install a transitional management committee that will take charge of the situation before CAMWATER fully takes over.

                However, this reporter gathered that the now destitute management committee, headed by Chief EssombeNanyowe which has been feeding fat on the water may stage a riposte to the decision and do everything to frustrate the move. This is true especially as there are already several cases pending in court over the management of the water.

                There are therefore fears that the storm is far from over with the decision of by the administration for CAMWATER to take over the management of the water.