Anglophone Conflict Stalls PIB Projects in Meme

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

BIP Follow-up Committee members at second quarter evaluation meeting

The ongoing Anglophone crisis has caused a marked decrease in the rate of public investment projects execution in Meme Division of the Southwest Region. This was one of the observations made by members of the Divisional participatory follow-up committee for the execution of PIB projects in Meme, during the second quarter evaluation meeting on Thursday 19 July 2018 at the Kumba city council hall.

            Members of the committee noted with dismay the paltry rate of projects executed for the midterm that stands at 21.16%.

            Chairing the meeting on behalf of the Chairman and his vice who were unavoidable absent, the Divisional Delegate of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MIINEPAT, Moma Ignatius Anyere noted that they were still working on the prescriptions of the chairman who recommended that projects be awarded to courageous contractors who knew the local realities of the area and who can brave the heat from the ongoing crisis marked by threats on persons’ lives.

            While decrying the insecurity in the region which has stalled the execution of some projects and slowed the rate of execution of others in some parts of the Division, Moma Anyere urged those present at the meeting to contribute innovative ideas which can help bring development to Meme Division.

            Moma Anyere expressed the hope that the execution rate will increase before the third participatory follow-up meeting expected to come up in October. He called for better collaboration between project owners and contractors, saying it will help boost projects execution.

            About the rate of projects execution by Meme councils, the MINEPAT Delegate noted with dissatisfaction that the Kumba II, Kumba III and Konye councils were still at 0% execution of all their projects, while Mbonge and Kumba I were at 18.2% and 34.06% respectively.

However, the Secretary General of Konye council noted that the council was still at 0% because most of their projects were awarded at the level of Yaounde and so they were still pending visa for commencement. For his part, the development officer of Kumba II council explained that some of their projects were received on the eve of the meeting which made it impossible for the data to be updated. He said others had kicked off and were ongoing.

            Taking the queue, the Divisional Delegate of Public Contracts, MINMAP, revealed that a recent Ministerial order has prescribed that projects allocated for areas that are too hot as a result of the ongoing crisis marked by threats on contractors could be relocated to areas that are secure for execution. He said such projects will be re-awarded to these areas after a permanent solution has been provided for the crisis.

            The meeting was witnessed by the First Assistant SDO for Meme, Nguime Joseph, who frowned at the 21.16% project execution as well as the constant absence of Mayors in the meeting despite their poor execution rates.

            He called on the Mayors to improve their execution rates before the next follow-up meeting. Several recommendations were made, one of which was for the Meme SDO to summon a meeting of all Mayors to discuss ways to facilitate projects execution in the Division.