Practical work for the tarring of the remaining three kilometres stretch of the Muea-Kumba highway has begun with the identification and consequent removal of some social obstacles which constitute the first phase of work on this road.

The social problems include AES-SONEL cables and transmitters planted on the rehabilitation site, CAMWATER pipes shallowly buried and CAMTEL poles and cables blocking the Double Carriage road.
The news of the long awaited portion of road rehabilitation was broken to the population of Kumba last 7 June 2010 in the Kumba City Council Hall by the outgone SDO for Meme, Abath Zanglamala Magloire, on the eve of his handing over to David Koulbot Aman appointed recently to take over from him in the same capacity.

The excitement in the Hall was total and uncontrollable. Kumba city dwellers see the departure of the nightmare this portion of the road posed to Kumba and particularly the Buea Road inhabitants. Yet, many were still not convinced. They still held to the opinion that it was one of those political gimmicks by the CPDM government to lure militants to vote for the president in forthcoming election.

Until the representative of SOGEA – SATOM, the company hired to do the job had confirmed the arrival of their road construction equipment to Kumba and the start of the practical session of the road works immediately only then were many people convinced.

The representative of SOGEA-SATOm whose only name Eden got as Mr. Penn, said  road rehabilitation,  especially in a cosmopolitan city like Kumba was usually more difficult, cumbersome and time-consuming than what it takes to work on a road like the Muea-Kumba. This is due to the fact that most often than not social issues  impair  smooth work. These social problems include electrical installations on the road passage, telephone lines and poles on work sites, water pipes, houses along the roads and some petrol stations built too close to the road which need to be destroyed to allow space for the road..

He opined that, without the collaboration and understanding of companies operating these in these sectors, it will not be easy to realise the job in record time. He challenged the city dwellers to handle these social problems very fast and their double carriage way road will be done in the shortest of time.
Meme out-gone SDO, Abath Zabbwala frowned at the absence of both AES-SONEL and CAMTEL from the meeting, urging them to lend their assistance to SATOM for rapid work. Abath summoned the high level understanding of those whose houses shall be affected by the project to handle the issue with a certain degree of understanding. He said though one may be victim of the road passage; it should not be a hindrance to the progress of the work on the road. Such people should seek advice from the mayors, Government Delegate, DOs or SDO of the area. Abath cautioned the population not to give stress to the road construction Company.

City Council Delegate Reacts
Reacting to the announcement, the City Council Government Delegate, Victor Ngoh Nkele expressed joy on behalf of his municipality. He sent appreciations to the Head of State and the institutions he incarnates

Nkelle Ngoh maintained that the president’s policy of greater achievements has yielded much and continue to bring forth good and fruitful fruits for the population of Cameroon. Kumba being one President Biya’s cherished town, Nkelle said he has turned his attention to it. Ngoh Nkelle promised the Head of State the Municipality’s total and unalloyed support with a firm pledge to see him come out victorious in the 2011 presidential.

On his part Hon. Abel Mukete, former Member of Parliament, saluted the Head of State’s gesture. In return, he said his people promised to throw their weight behind the Head of State in subsequent civic assignments. However, the former MP disapproved of the erection of speed-brakes on the road to be constructed, arguing that it breeds more accidents than prevent

As for the outgoing Secretary General to the Kumba City Council, Ivo Charles Makoge, “President Biya has proved once more that he’s a reliable partner in development and that we can always count on him”. He said, Biya is a winner in all aspects. However, Makoge warned that, nothing should stand on the way of this project. He alluded to AES Sonel, CAMWATER and CAMTEL whose installations could retard the fast execution of the project. He called on them to pave the way for the Kumba people to enjoy what they had been longing for, for years and should not act as an impediment.