Mayor Ndangsa's Five Months in Office, How Far?

Mayor Ndangsa's Five Months in Office, How Far?

On Tuesday February 25th 2020, Ndangsa Kennedy Akam was elected as new mayor of the Mbengwi council.

He challenged the incumbent, Tebe Beatrice and won. 

Ndangsa Kennedy Akam, Mayor, Mbengwi Council

Promises Made

Mbengwi Online recalls during his campaign before the voting exercise, he said "A vote for me is a vote for the return of peace and school resumption in Mbengwi" 

In an exclusive still with Mbengwi Online later on that same day, he said the major roads in Mbengwi are not the best and so primary focus will be on improving the state of farm to market roads. 

As regards education, he reiterated that his primary objective will be to see that dwindling educational establishments regain normalcy within the subdivision. He also preached reconciliation, this by saying "The first thing is that I'll reconcile the councillors so that we work as a team because without unity, they'll be no progress"

Unfortunately, barely two days after, he was kidnapped, kept incommunicado for a month and three days, then released on Monday March 30th. On Wednesday April 8th, he was sworn into office. On this day, cornered by Mbengwi Online, he again talked of empowering community schools.

On Thursday April 9th, barely after being sworn into office, he went down the streets of Mbengwi for a COVID-19 campaign. At the Mbon Motor Park, the problem raised by the population was that of no water to drink not to talk of washing hands and mayor Ndangsa promised them that the council is already putting in place measures to see that the park has water in the nearest days ahead.

Facing the Press

On Wednesday May 6th, the maiden administrative account session of the Mbengwi council was held. Being new in their functions, the mayor promised the councilors that a training workshop will be organised for them in June. Did it hold?

On Saturday June 6th, the mayor held a meeting with traders of the Mbon main market in the council hall at the end of which a new executive of the Mbengwi Traders Union was voted. During the meeting, the mayor promised the traders that the council will reorganise the market so that similar goods and services appear on same line. He promised to relocate the president of the union, Anye Collins from the back of the market where he's isolated to the front where the tailoring line is.

Also, selling at the entry into the market was prohibited, be they hawkers, fruit sellers etc. Payment of rents for council sheds in the Mbon market he said will commence from July ending and a special favour will be given for all accrued rents except for traders who will fail to start paying their rents. Such according to the mayor will be forced to pay all rents for the past years they've been owing the council because not still paying now depicts bad faith.

Taking Oath of Office

On Wednesday July 22nd, Mayor Ndangsa Kennedy was in Mbemi for the reconstruction of broken bridges at the end of which he promised that the next target will be to mobilise the Nyen community to clear the Tad Market that's been abandoned in the wild for the past 3 years so that business resumes full swing in the market. He also promised that other bridges like the one linking Njiningom to Njinebai in Guneku will be looked into while his development plans for the council shall not only be centralised in and around Mbengwi central but also extend right up to interior villages like Zang Tabi.  

How Far

"A vote for me is a vote for the return of peace and school resumption in Mbengwi" On this promise, as for the former, Mbengwi has been relatively peaceful ever since the mayor's coming into office. Life is reported to be speedily regaining steam even in the suburbs. On the latter, Mbengwi Online knows only of only one functional school in the municipality (sub division) at moment. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, about 5 were on but later closed their doors following government measures put in place to contain the spread of the pandemic

Ndangsa Kennedy & Past Mayor, Tebe Beatrice

On improving the state of farm to market roads, nothing has changed though some communities have been mobilising themselves for road maintenance without any assistance from the council but the impact has really been very insignificant. It was not until Thursday June 11 2020 that the first Caterpillar belonging to Edge Construction  entered Mbengwi from Bamenda since the Anglophone Crisis started in  late 2016. The company is currently executing a project to tar the stretch of road Check Point to the residence of the Senior Divisional Officer. It's however not a new project initiated under the mandate of the seating mayor.

On ensuring that dwindling educational establishments regain normalcy especially through empowering community schools, almost all schools in the sub division are still in the wild. Mbengwi has till date remained one of the worst subdivisions seriously affected by effective school boycott. 

On reconciliation, we can't say how much has been done in this light but there are still signs and symptoms all is not rosy within the councillors said to still be in camps though members of one party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM). Ndangsa took over an office others were eyeing so obviously he should have haters.

The mayor in Mbemi for Bridge Reconstruction

Concerning the provision of water at the Mbon motor park, till date, no trench has ever been dug to bury a pipe nor any standpipe installed anywhere around the park. There are not even any indications the project is in the pipeline.

On the holding of a training workshop for councillors, it has never taken place till date. Nearly half of the councillors don't even live in the municipality. With no such training, they'll have to dabble with their functions for five years. This means a majority may likely be more interested in their seating allowances than development.

On the reorganisation of the Mbon market, very little has been done. A new executive of the Mbengwi Trader's Union is in place which is good but it's yet to meet up with the expectations of the traders. The Mbon market is still disorganised. Many sheds remain locked, owners nowhere to be found while potential business persons lack sheds to operate in.  Little order has been implemented at the gate though some recalcitrant traders still continue to sell there instead of entering into the market as ordered. The trader's union president is yet to be relocated to the dress making line.

Concerning the clearing of Tad market and mending of other broken bridges in the municipality plus realisation of council development plans in the suburbs, Mbengwi Online will continue monitoring and taking note of subsequent promises to be made by the mayor and his realisations. 

The mayor staking his life for the development of his municipality

Mayor at MECUDA organised COVID-19 Campaign 

Apart from all these, Mayor Ndangsa Kennedy has already lost one councillor, Anapa Isaac and one worker, Injoh Irene, both now of late. His most impacting achievement so far is the reconstruction of the Mbemi and Zem bridges with support from several quarters. 

He has been representing the council in state meetings and the population at donation ceremonies that have mostly been taking place at the esplanade of the Momo Senior Divisional Officer's office. Within five months, Mayor Ndangsa has been in the news. It may still be too early to give him a pass or fail mark. By the time he exhausts his first year in office, Mbengwi Online will be back again to publish how far he's gone.