Dibamba mayor debunks embezzlement allegations

The Mayor of Dibamba Council, Manfred Njecacal and management have recently come under scathing press criticism. In a recent news article published by a local independent newspaper, the Mayor is accused of embezzling council funds since he took over in 2007. Reacting to the news article entitled, “Mairie de Dibamba Pillage à ciel ouvert” or “Open Embezzlement at the Dibamba Council,” Mayor Njecacal dismissed the report as “unfounded” and “grossly unrealistic.”

During a news conference in Akwa, Douala, on March 21, 2016, he presented the Council’s revenue beginning in 2007 when it was carved out from the former Edea Rural Council and made an entity of its own. With just an old Council block ceded to it by the former Edea Rural Council, Njecacal, who is pioneer Mayor of Dibamba, said he took over with just an old Toyota Pickup 6000, old furniture and office material. Between 2007 and 2012, the council’s revenue depended on duties paid by trucks transporting sand from the CAC sandpit, which amounted to 4 million FCFA every three months. But it had to spend 3.5 million FCFA on salaries each month.

The Public Investment Budget, PIB, he said, has hardly exceeded 32 million FCFA annually. Meanwhile, the council’s budget for 2016 is about FCFA 616.7 million. With this, assistance has been given to several primary and secondary schools such as the construction and equipment of multimedia centres and classrooms, hiring of night watchmen for schools, as well paying Parent Teachers 50,000 FCFA each every month.

Others include the on-going construction of a Council Hall and provision of potable water. Although with meagre finances, management has helped in electrifying villages as well as set up a health centre at Somakek, boosted agriculture, hygiene and sanitation, assisted youths and carried out road construction and rehabilitation, among many others.

Though the council awaits revenue from the Douala City Council, it has been able to carry out some major investments.