Close to a hundred drivers plying the Mbengwi-Bamenda road and that are registered members of the Mbengwi Drivers' Union (M.D.U) on Thursday June 30th 2022 grounded their vehicles not for any demonstration but to carry out maintenance works on the stretch of road from G.B.H.S Mbengwi to Monastery Junction, extending to the Ngyen-Mbo Checkpoint that was nearly becoming impassable due to unbearable potholes.
It should be recalled on Thursday April 7th 2022, Tekwe Rene Nyengiche, a driver plying the Mbengwi-Bamenda road was gunned down at Alubukam by non state armed fighters locally called "Amba Boys" for no just reason. On Tuesday April 12th same month, his mortal remains were laid to rest in Ngyen-Mbo. Members of the driver's union where he was a member made a condolence contribution that amounted to hundreds of thousands. Part of the money raised was used during his burial and the rest kept in the union's coffers.
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| Drivers Carrying Out Road Maintenance |
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| Loading Laterite |
As explained by Tebo Philip Tembeng, Mbengwi Branch President of the union, "Everything being equal, the road was done courtesy of our own colleague that had gone to eternity in the name of Rene." To Timo Eric Fomundam, Bamenda branch president of the union, the drivers responded well to the call for the road maintenance work and were of good conduct throughout the exercise. He however regretted that there were a few recalcitrant ones that preferred to continue their transportation business than joining their colleagues to maintain the road. He said these ones will be "put on a hot sea" so that next time they better understand the meaning of solidarity.
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| Tebo Philip Tembeng, Mbengwi Branch President |
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| Timo Eric Fomundam, Bamenda Branch President |
Prior to the day of work, the union had procured several trips of soil (laterite) and threw on several portions along the stretch they had to work on. On that fateful Thursday, members came out with tools like wheelbarrows, dig axes, spades and hoes to scatter the hips of soil that had been deposited before. They also at some points created passage ways for standing water to flow from the middle of the road to the roadsides.
The Mbengwi Drivers' Union was supported in the road maintenance initiative by the Mbengwi council that sent to them a mini truck and work tools to assist in easily digging, loading, offloading and transporting laterite to the very bad portions on the road. Some concerned road users also passed by and gave financial tokens to encourage the initiative. Unfortunately, it rained heavily that same day and even the next day thus somehow ruining the work that was done though on a general evaluation, the state of the maintained stretch as at now is better than how it was before.
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| Doreen Fonjong Anwi epouse Agwe, First Deputy Mayor, Mbengwi Council |
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| Mini Truck Sent by the Mbengwi Council to Assist the Drivers |
The first deputy mayor of the Mbengwi Council, Doreen Fonjong spouse of Agwe. In remarking about the work done, she told Mbengwi Online "I'll want to thank the organisers, especially the Presidents of the drivers' union and the Mayor, Ndangsa Kennedy for aligning with the driver's plan and giving them the leeway to carryout this exercise." After work, the union members rallied back at the Mbon motor park where the executive acknowledged the various supports they received to ensure a successful completion of the task they'd embarked on.
It was disclosed that the women selling bread and other items at hospital roundabout supported them with some drinks, same as the first deputy mayor, the council Chief of Works, a cashier of Njindom Credit Union, the two presidents and some drivers themselves that went an extra mile to still offer some drinks. It was also acknowledged that the Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency, Mbengwi, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia supported them financially while the council gave material support.
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| Filled Potholes |
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| Seta Withgodep Wierts Assisting the Drivers |
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| Maintsined Portion |
Fongyen Valery, a driver, expressed the desire they have to carryout such maintenance works from time to time but regretted their will is hindered by the lack of means. On behalf of his colleagues, he pleaded for any well wisher to instead of giving them drinks or money rather offer them long lasting material support like spades, box hammers, wheelbarrows and any other work tool. The drivers that turned out for the work were made up of Mankon natives, Meta natives, the Mbororos and natives from other tribes earning a living from the road. From their number, it could be deduced that at least 100 family heads depend on the Mbengwi-Bamenda road to feed their families, pay bills, educate their children and save for rainy days.
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