SNAPSHOT OF BUEA AS IT AWAITS PAUL BIYA

The capital city of Buea in particular and the South West Region as a whole are in a mood of heightened expectancy as they prepare to receive President Paul Biya for celebrations marking fifty years of reunification. STAY AWAKE AND KEEP WATCH As things stand, though, the precise date is really still a matter of speculation as the authorities are tight-lipped about it. It is not unusual though, considering that usually when the president has to make a one-off public appearance at a national event, the exact date is kept close the to the heart like a trump card during a match of cards, until at the last moment, literally. This is the type of scenario that characterizes the annual football championship finals usually presided over by the Head of State. SHOOTS OF SOMETHING NEW As Buea holds its breath for the impending arrival of the august guest, residents of the locality are also heaving sighs of relief because their city has been so transformed that some of them can hardly believe some of the tell-tale signs. Street lighting has been provided for the main road arteries. This is the aspect that grips any night time traveler to Buea. There are beaming street lamps from Mile 17 into Buea town and from Mile 17 right down to beyond Mile 16. Similarly the same phenomenon can be observed from Mile 17 to Muea and beyond. The major roads have been cleared of vending containers. All the unsightly houses that had stood by the roadside, either serving as business premises or private residences and were earmarked for demolition have been brought down accordingly. Either the owners destroyed them voluntarily or the Council did so forcefully. The large hue and cry that broke out when demolition work began has now given way to a silent acceptance of the inevitable. In fact, landlords have found a way of now systematically putting up new buildings that are more attractive than the previous ones. ALCOHOL-FREE JUNCTION Roadside bars have been closed down and for once, the university junction is now void of the boisterous drinking spree groups that used to be commonplace in the vicinity. I once witnessed the Mayor of Buea, Mbella Moki Charles, giving bar owners at the junction a talk about the need to move their businesses away from the university areas. Although his interlocutors did not appear to agree with him and offered some resistance, the task became easier when the Head of State made it known he would be visiting Buea. WHERE PEOPLE DISAGREE One aspect of the visit that annoys observers is the fact that the built-in lane that separated the two streams of traffic on Buea`s main road – the one from Mile 17 up into the town – has been demolished. The argument of objectors is that it was there in the first place for security and safety, so that a vehicle on one side avoids swerving into the other lane and thus causing a major disaster. The fact that the long island of safety has been removed is perceived as an open invitation for vehicles to change sides abruptly with the effect that everyone knows. The question being asked now is whether now that the safety valve has been removed because the Head of State is coming, it will be put back after he has come and gone. NEW LOOK MILE 17 AND A SELLER`S MARKET Mile 17 has been refurbished with new storey buildings now adorning the commercial part of the locality. Even fruit vendors and butchers now have their own purpose-built stalls. Away from Mile 17 and the spots where buildings were demolished, new buildings are still springing up here and then in Buea. Whether they are for business or private use, they always inevitably have tenants lined up to pay their rents even in advance and move in. So the problem is not that of tenants, it is that of finding a house to rent. The issue of accommodation is so acute that often, while a house is still being built, tenants have already reserved it by paying rents in advance, in order to quicken finishing by the landlord. THE CAMPUS RUMPUS At the University of Buea where there was some unrest emanating from student protests recently, calm has returned on campus and the impression one gets is that of business as usual. However, some days ago, the Students` Union published a statement on internet claiming one of the students held in detention had died and was secretly buried. Even so, no evidence of such a death had been made available at the time we went to press. A MAN WHOSE TIME HAS COME One of the main actors of the current facelift in Buea is undoubtedly its Mayor, Mbella Moki Charles, also Senator of the Republic and Section President of the ruling CPDM party. After being elected Senator, he will no doubt be expected to step down as Mayor of Buea Council. In his own words, he says he has delivered the goods he was called upon to deliver when made mayor. Now that the mission has been accomplished, he feels strongly it is time to move on. It will be recalled that when the newly-elected senators met in Yaounde for their first session, Mbella Moki was an instant centre of attraction on account of his youthfulness, his nice looks and above all, his achievements as mayor of Buea. THE SEPTEMBER 2013 ELECTIONS AND AFTER President Paul Biya has picked the 30th of September 2013 as the date for council and parliamentary elections to be held nationwide. If the president`s visit to Buea takes place before that date, Mbella Moki will welcome him as mayor. If the president comes after the date of the twin elections, he will be welcomed by the new mayor, whoever that will be. But Mbella Moki will still be at the grandstand as a senator and Section President. Undoubtedly, henceforth, the history of Buea cannot be written without giving Mbella Moki a place in it. _____________________________________ FOOTNOTE This paper was first broadcast on Foundation Radio (The Voice of the Voiceless) news , Mile 6 Ngomgham, Mankon-Bamenda, on Monday the 15th of July 2013.