Urban Disorder: bad habits die hard

The repressive measures used by the Yaounde City Council are not working to put to order recalcitrant traders.

The day had started Tuesday in Mfoundi market by its usual mess with its main entrance comparable to a dump. Here, fruits and other fresh food debris lie on the floor. On the floor, fruit, jewelry, roasted peanuts, shoes, etc. are spread on the floor, almost disabling the movement of vehicles.

At this peak time, all ears are strained and like a thunder you hear "Awara, Awara" (pseudonym given to the municipal police), then it is total confusion. In just minutes, the pavement is emptied as if by magic.

False alarm! Traders immediately regain their shelves certainly calculating a moment to another when they arrived. The descent of the agents of the Yaounde City Council is indeed to bring the occupants of the highway only to order and not the market space that are reserved for other users. Despite the measures taken by the authorities: Enter and confiscate goods spread out on the pavement and sidewalk, the anarchic occupation of these places continues.

Although hunted, these vendors and other occupants of the urban space are determined to find their daily bread here. This is the case of Karine K. saleswoman of oranges who has been in the business in Ngoa-Ekelle area for two years.

"There is no day that passes without the agents of the Council showing up here with their large vehicle to pick up all the goods they find on the road or on the sidewalk. I really do not understand what they want. However, all traders who are here, pay a fee of FCFA 100 per day and the sum of FCFA 500 at the police station. These agents know that we are here and it does not cause them any problems," protested Karine K.

The other trader in front said:" We are all persecuted every time by these agents who seize our goods. It is for our daily bread that we're here. There is no more space in the market otherwise we would not be here."

However, some traders appear to have learned their lesson. At the Mokolo market, for example, the way is clear through the deployment of public safety Commissioner elements of the 2nd arrondissement in the said market.

"The thugs recruited by the Commissioner are to crisscross the market all day long to stop the sellers who insist on displaying their wares on the street. Once they are arrested, they pay heavy fines before recovering their property. Discouraging," said a street vendor.