Population Blocks Planned Transfer of G.S Wumsom Classrooms Project to Chigwiri

Population Blocks Planned Transfer of G.S  Wumsom Classrooms Project to Chigwiri

The people of Zang Tembeng and neighbouring villages in the Tondig zone of the Meta clan, Mbengwi have pleaded with the Mbengwi Council not to dare implement the planned transfer of the 2020 Public Investment Project for the construction of a block of two classrooms in Government School Wumsom (Tondig zone) to G.S Chigwiri in Mbengwi central town on the basis of insecurity. This time around, they have taken upon themselves the responsibility to secure the project and ensure its effective realisation at its initial site, Wumsom.

The information was revealed during the recently held second quarterly meeting of the Momo Divisional Participatory Follow-up Committee for the evaluation of BIP (Budget d'Investissement Public) projects in the division that took place last Wednesday July 14 2021 in the conference hall of the divisional delegation of Labour and Social Security. Mayor Ndangsa Kennedy Akam of the Mbengwi Council told the committee that to show their commitment, the people have already gone and cleared the project area and have engaged in the moulding of new blocks. 

Government School Wumsom, One of the Oldest in the Subdivision 

As the story goes, last year, a contract for the construction of a block of two classrooms in G.S Wumsom and supply of benches to the same school was awarded. Work started but was stopped along the way due to insecurity as non state armed fighters locally known as "Amba Boys" went and kidnapped one of the workers. Hundreds of thousands were paid as ransom to secure his release from their detention camp. Later, the fighters still went again and pushed down the erected walls that were already reaching roofing level. From thence, the remaining workers flee for safety and work was completely stopped till date. 

In order not to lose the contract, plans were being nursed to transfer the project to Government School Chigwiri, in Mile 17, Mbengwi central town that's relatively safer and secured. The beneficiary population of the Tondig zone of the Meta clan, Mbengwi got hint of the plan and stepped in to beckon on the council not to carry away their project to another area. They've given assurance that their area is relatively safer now for work to resume considering that the main leader of non state armed fighters that were terrorising the area, masterminding kidnaps and stopping the execution of government projects had been killed by the military. Reports say there are few "Amba Boys" now left in the area and these few don't disturb the population again.

Benches the were to be Supplied to G.S Wumsom Abandoned in the Court Yard of the Momo Basic Education Delegation, Mbengwi

While opening the session, the committee's vice president told participants "One thing has brought us here, to evaluate projects allocated to our division. We are aware of the challenges  but if we truly want to serve our people, we should sacrifice for them and all will come to pass" He also reiterated  the need for contractors to be inclusive in the course of executing their projects on the field by endeavouring to use the local population in its realisation to avoid disturbances that may eventually lead to abandonment as the case has been in most areas. 

In the course of the meeting, members also evaluated the state of some projects that were allocated the division since last year but are yet to be completed and put to use. Such included the rural electrification project from Barakwe through Wumnebit to Chenam in the Tondig zone of the Meta clan, Mbengwi which the Momo Divisional Delegate of Water and Energy said is at 95.85% realisation as at now, pending technical reception. Meanwhile that for the construction of a borehole at the gendarmerie brigade and at the Momo Senior Divisional Officer's residence were rated to be at 85.19% each and 78.26% for the one at the Mbengwi central prison. As for the rural electrification of Bessi Fomukong from G.R.A Mbengwi, there are no signs of work commencing any moment soon.

As has been the case for over two years now, only the mayor of the Mbengwi council has been physically attending these follow up meetings, same way his predecessor was doing. Those of Njikwa, Andek, Batibo and Widikum often send either their Council Development Officer or deputy or Secretary General and at times nobody at all. The case of the Widikum council is worst as the council has always been found wanting in almost everything concerning the realisation projects in the municipality. Consequently, the council has always been first from the bottom when it comes to classification of council's performances within the division at the level of the follow up committee. 

The Momo Divisional Delegate of the Ministry of the Economy,  Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) cautioned all mayors within the division to be extra careful this time around with how they manage the 27.7 millions given annually by the Ministry of Public Works for road maintenance. She tipped them that the regional governor is currently investigating the usage of these funds as there are indications many mayors have been playing hanky panky with the money. They were reminded of past mayors that went to prison for misappropriation and thus advised to stop using the money to open up roads because often than not, they soon fold up back like no work was ever done but rather to use the money in building bridges or culverts on roads as these will be more durable, feasible and sustainable.

Using the carrot and stick approach, while the committee resolved to call the mayor of Widikum to order as it isn't normal that almost every project in his council area is at 0%, his colleague of the Mbengwi council was rather applauded for having realised most of his projects by 100%. It was during this meeting that we learnt four councils in the division each received 5 million francs from the state to fight COVID-19 except the Mbengwi council whose own share was 11 millions. How the funds were used is a story for another day but the mayor of Mbengwi council briefly said he used his to purchase a mini waste disposal van for the council, disinfected some public areas, bought and distributed prevention kits and carried out sensitisation campaigns. 

Renovated Finance Building, Mbengwi

Before having closing remarks from the S.D.O's representative, the committee expressed ignorance with the ongoing rehabilitation of the Finance Building. For several years, the deplorable state of the finance building in Mbengwi preoccupied the Momo Divisional Participatory Follow Up Committee members. Studies were done and forwarded to Yaounde only for all to later on be surprised in seeing that rehabilitation works have been going on and are near completion without their consent. In trying to find out what was going on, it was realised the contract was awarded directly from the finance ministry in Yaoundé and the contractor is answerable to nobody on the ground. 

Statistics provided to us by the MINEPAT delegation showed that for this year 2021, Momo division had a total number of 57 projects with an allocation budget of 1.139.106.000F CFA out of which 12 have been completed, 14 started and 31 not yet started thus giving a physical execution rate of 21.38% and a financial execution rate of 5.54%, this as at 14 July 2021. The next follow up meeting comes up in October