The death of community leader Ngam Augustin and the management of the dump site in Mbelewa were two amongst the many issues discussed this Wednesday, 4 December 2024, during the budgetary session of the Bamenda III Council held at the council’s makeshift hall.
Councillors expressed outrage and sorrow over the tragic death of Ngam Augustin, a respected community leader with the backing of the Nkwen Palace, following a protracted land dispute between the Nkwen and Bamendakwe communities. A widely circulated video showed Ngam being tortured before he succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Bamenda. The incident has reignited tensions over the Nkeung area.
Councillors used the session to call on the representative of the State, the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) for Mezam, to intervene urgently to prevent further violence. They described the current stalemate as untenable and demanded swift action to mediate a lasting resolution.
Equally concerning were the grievances raised by residents living near the Mbelewa waste dump site. Councillors reported that flies from the dump have turned the area into an unbearable living environment, with the constant odours and health risks pushing inhabitants to the brink. They proposed immediate measures, including improved waste disposal practices and periodic fumigation of the site, while advocating for a long-term solution to relocate or manage the waste more effectively.
The session also saw the adoption of the 2025 budget, balanced in revenue and expenditure at slightly over 700 million FCFA. Mayor Fongu Cletus Tanwe highlighted that revenue would be mobilised through discharge and equalised taxes from FEICOM, proceeds from council land and services, and investment grants from the state and development partners.
He told Hilltopvoices Newspaper that expenditure will prioritise road construction, water supply extensions, pipeline maintenance, the creation of green spaces, and other community projects such as youth holiday job recruitment and agricultural shows.
Despite the ambitious nature of the budget, councillors stressed the need to allocate resources towards addressing these immediate community concerns. Mayor Fongu assured attendees that these issues were being taken seriously, vowing to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure sustainable solutions.