Heavy rains slow down business in Douala

It is either raining or constantly drizzling in Douala these days. Most residents, already imbued to the wet weather, go about their daily business undaunted by the persistent showers of rain. Various methods and gadgets are used to brave persistent rains, which have slackened business and kept many back home since the last week of August 2015.

Usual rush hours in the city are now characterised by smooth traffic flow, which most commuters wish should continue forever; save for the heavy rains. Most passengers now stay back home when rains increase in intensity. As a result, most cab drivers do not begin work until the rains start to subside.

If one could look down on the city from the fifth or tenth floor of a storey building, he would be amazed at how city dwellers brave the rainy weather. Such view is often of a vast, bright and appealing variety of umbrellas, boats and rain coats by people struggling to get to work or marketplaces along inundated streets.

Most residents now put on rubber or leather shoes. On the contrary, people coming into the city for the first time unprepared are forced to linger under shelters, or tarry on verandahs, or just stay back at home. Even so, most people visiting Douala for the first time soon realise that it is necessary to brave the rain, come what may or stay under shelters until late noon when it often begins to drizzle.

A Chinese-made umbrella that used to sell at FCFA 1,000 has now risen to FCFA 1,500. A parasol capable of accommodating a call box, which used to cost FCFA 5,000, now sells for FCFA 8,000. Meanwhile, a pair of rain boots now sells for FCFA 6,500, compared to FCFA 6,000 previously. As concerns rain coats, a good one costs between FCFA 4,000 and FCFA 7,000; up from between FCFA 2,000 and FCFA 3,000.

At Marches des femmes, traders, especially those selling foodstuff and some other basic necessities, cover their goods with plastics and still sell under parasols or umbrellas as it rains or drizzles in the city. The services of shoe shiners have dwindled both in demand and availability.

According to Oumarou H., a mobile shoe shiner, Douala residents now hardly put on leather shoes because of the prevailing rainy weather. “Most of us have seen our incomes reduced because many people prefer putting on rubber shoes to work. As a result, most of my colleagues hardly come out for work.”

It is now commonplace for workers and civil servants to reach their offices late. It is either they have difficulties getting taxis or commercial motorcycles, especially those living in neighbourhoods prone to flooding. Others are delayed in the struggle to brave the rains.