Its beauty leaves no passer-by or user indifferent. The canal on the Mfoundi River running from the centre of Yaounde, notably from behind the AES Sonel Head Office through the neighbourhoods of Olezoa to Mvog-Mbi, Mvog-Atangana Mballa to Nsam, remains a veritable attraction. At the beginning, the public, especially those around the river thought it was a joke, but as work continued with embellishment here and there, the nightmarish area became a jewel to the city with inhabitants and passers-by heaving a sigh of relief.
The yesteryear’s muddy, unkempt and insecured area has been transformed into a paved, clean area, void of traffic. Mama Fridoline Belinga cannot hold back her joy and appreciation. “The ease with which other neighbours and I cross over from Olezoa to Mvog-Mbi and Mvog-Atangana Mballa, is enjoyable,” she said. She explains that they were often scared of the bushy and unsafed nature of the river banks. She remembers the bravery and courage with which it took them to move around the area. Smiling from jaw to jaw as she crossed over to the Mvog-Mbi Market accompanied by two other women, Fridoline said only little minds that care less about development will hesitate to appreciate the work on the riverbed. The free flow of vehicles and movement of people and goods along the banks of the river has been made easy. The 3.5 kilometres of the river’s bank, with intersections and cross overs for pedestrians contribute to income-generating activities. Petty trading along the banks with the sale of locally prepared juice is gaining grounds. Meanwhile, street children in the area now enjoy the clean environment for laundry.
Besides the tar that runs from the Central Post Office in downtown Yaounde to Nsam behind the SCDP fuel depot, the segment at Olezoa has been given a special touch. Paved runways have been put in place while plans to construct a10-acre area comprising gardens and parking lots along the river, petty market, women empowerment centre and recreational centre, are underway. From the master plan of the Yaounde City Council, all is aimed at cleaning up the city to create an environment free of floods.
At the premises of the China International Water and Electric Corporation, the company that carried out the over FCFA 22 billion project, yesterday October 12, the atmosphere was calm and serene. Officials of the company were more interested in other things and information gathered revealed that work at the canal was complete and engineers are waiting for the one year guarantee that was given for the work to be finally approved. Maintenance now remains the watchword as inhabitants along the river bank have been warned not to take the river as a dumping ground.
