By Norbert Wasso
The Mayor of Limbe III council, Barrister Nseke Dibotti Luma has raised alarm over the declining state of the historic Bimbia Slave Trade Village and the poor road networks in his municipality.
Mayor Nseke Luma was speaking on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at the Council Chambers in Chop farm, Limbe III during the second ordinary session of the council devoted to the adoption of the 2025 budget. After deliberations, councilors unanimously adopted FCFA 650 Million as budget of the Limbe III Council for 2025.
In his address before the administration led by the third assistant Senior Divisional Officer, Joel Biyele Noah, councilors, traditional authorities, elite and staff, the mayor noted that the rehabilitation of the Bonangombe stretch of road to complete the ring road leading to the slave trade site is a priority. He averred that inaccessibility has greatly affected the tourism sector especially the slave trade site, which according to the mayor “seems to have lost its glow, even in the eyes of the State” noting that, “we have all witnessed the gradual decline of the historic relics found in the site”.
While the mayor didn’t want to say point black that this was a tacit case of abandonment by the ministries concerned with promotion of culture and tourism, he nonetheless was categorical that losing the remaining ancient structures in the slave trade site will terribly affect its value and essence as a historic and cultural heritage that deserves full worldwide attention. The mayor said it “was time to act”. While the council is to carry out minimal maintenance works on the site, Mayor Nseke Luma implored the Supervisory Authority “to convey their concerns about the apparent neglect of the site to the powers that be before the Bimbia Slave Trade Village becomes faded memory”.
Bad roads a recurrent theme
On the recurring problem of poor road network which has been a constant subject in Limbe III Council discourses, a rather helpless mayor said they cannot do much than continue to appeal to the State to take concrete action after the abrupt end of the former tarring project. The road he said has “deteriorated developing huge cracks and potholes warning that the municipality is gradually returning to the old days of poor access, no access and untold suffering”. The mayor’s big wish is that the main stretch of road from Man O’ War bay to Mabeta and Tiko is tarred for farm-to-market roads to be productive. He welcomed the inclusion of studies on the said road by the Limbe City council in its 2025 budget.
Budget breakdown
The FCFA 650 million budget that was voted by councilors is broken down as follows; FCFA 390M representing 60 percent is for recurrent revenue while FCFA 260M representing 40 percent is for investment revenue. Both amounts and percentages are also for expenditures.
The Investment expenditure will be used for the realization of the 2025 Annual Investment Plan with key projects notably; the supply of electricity/ installation of solar street lights to Mabeta and Bimbia villages, the acquisition of an outboard engine to revamp the engine boat, the rehabilitation and supply of some equipment and furniture for rentals, the renovation of Bimbia Slave Trade site main entrance and part of the fence, the construction of semi-permanent bridge linking Mabeta Small and big Kombos, rehabilitation of communal roads amongst others.
Mayor Nseke Dibotti Luma with other dignitaries at council session
Cross section of Limbe III councilors during budgetary session