Business owners went on strike, shutting
down at least six markets across the city of Bamenda last week, to protest the
doubling of shop and stall rents.
About
3000 traders marched on Up Station with placards, blocking off the main
entrance to the city around the Governor’s Office for more than four hours.
They
were also protesting against what they termed repeated intimidation from the
City Council’s market wardens and other officials.
City
officials cancelled the rent increase at the end of a heated meeting with
protesters. The Government Delegate was absent.
The
City had unilaterally raised different categories of monthly rent from FCFA8000
and FCAF10,000 to FCFA15,000 and FCFA20,000. Charges for street vendors also
rose from FCFA100 to FCFA500 a week.
The
increases affected Main Market, Food Market, Ntarikon Market, Nkwen Market,
Behind Stadium Market, Hospital Market and other markets operated by the
council around the city.
Jude
Waindim, the Secretary General of the City, said they were implementing a
regulation on the calculation of rents that has existed since 2009. The rent
increase result from a recalculation using this old rule, he said.
But
traders rejected the move and said they would be unable to break even with the
increased cost of doing business in the city’s markets.
However,
Frederick Nde, president of the Progressive Bamenda Traders’ Association, said
the city council had treated his members with arrogance.
They
began marching at 7am and only left the streets around 11 am. The road
blockades crippled movement in and out of the city, leaving intercity
travellers stranded at Up Station.
Markets
are expected to reopen tomorrow. But tensions remain. Traders’ representatives
said they were uncertain if other problems, including alleged harassments, will
go away.
Pic
Traders on strike
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