Buea Council dismisses accusations of discrimination in demolition drive

– Says allegations are malicious and baseless
– Mayor Mafani says houses built on waterways must be demolished
– Lifafe Mbua Etutu notes that the council works strictly under the confines of the law

Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi in Buea

Following a recent media publication of alleged discrimination and corruption at the ongoing demolition exercise carried out by the Buea council on houses built on waterways, the Mayor of the Buea Council, Barrister David Mafani Namange has said the allegations are not only false but malicious. He spoke to The SUNnewspaper on phone last Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

“I don’t work on baseless allegations and I don’t comment on things which are uncalled for. Any person who thinks that Buea council is working out of the confines of the law should come up. We are opening water ways and we must open them,” Mayor Mafani insisted.

Clearing the air especially on the case of Suh Amaboh, one of the inhabitants of Bonduma area whose house was demolished, Mayor Mafani Namange maintained that the person in question was not against the demolition of his house because he was conscious that it was on the waterway. He added that the structures demolished were done as per the law.

Buea Mayor: Barrister David Mafani Namange

“I doubt that the person in question, Mr Suh can even make such utterances because I was on the field during the demolition exercise and Mr Suh personally told me that he was not against the demolition of his house because he was conscious that it was on the waterway. The person in question is someone I know personally but I don’t privilege friendship over what is right for the community.

“Mr Suh did not have a building permit and has never applied for it. It is important for you and everyone to know that my uncle’s house was also demolished. So the demolition exercise had nothing to do with favoritism, tribalism or emotions. If they want to keep practicing sensational journalism, it is their cup of tea. We shall continue doing what is right for our people and the municipality as a whole” Mayor Mafani revealed.

According to the Chief of Bureau, town planning and constructions at the Buea Council, Lifafe Mbua Etutu, the ongoing demolition exercise is not something new. “We started this demolition exercise early this year around federal quarters even though the recently hit flashfloods accelerated the demolition procedure. We made several announcements informing developers around waterways that their structures will be demolished. We’ve written ‘stop work and ‘demolish’ on many structures around Buea especially those within waterways.

“Coming back to the case of the said Mr Suh, his structure was not marked on the day of the demolition. That particular structure was marked even before it was plastered. After the flashfloods, we realized that his building was at a very risky level so we had to demolish. What made it worse was the fact that he went ahead to build an embankment within the waterway. He did not maintain the 10metres distance from the waterway and he did not have a building permit”. Mbua Etutu added.

He noted that there were many other structures built on the waterway that were demolished and not only that of Mr Suh. “We are working strictly under the prescriptions of the law even though we put the fear of God in some not-so severe cases to minimize damages. We marked all the structures on waterways more than 3 months ago so the owners were well informed beforehand.

“It has always been said that ignorance of the law is no excuse. It is very clear that everyone needs a building permit before they start construction. Before putting up the first block, you should have a building permit. So when people build on waterways and the council tells them to stop the work and they continue, they would have themselves to blame at the end. People should not think they can outsmart the council and get away with it. It doesn’t work that way” Mayor Mafani Namange cautioned.

“I am surprised that even some top officials in the municipality build in wrong areas and when you stop them they continue thinking they can use their positions to fight the law. When a demolition letter is served to them, they write to powers that be for their investments to be protected. There will not be any such protection in Buea under my reign. We also want to warn those building on areas like hills. Those hills can collapse and lives will be lost. The council has a duty of care vis-à-vis its population and that is what we are doing” The head of the Buea Council reiterated.

It is important to equally state Suh Amaboh had previously opened up to the press wherein he expressed his dissatisfaction as to the demolition of his structure. “Nobody ever mentioned to me passively that my house was at risk. Unfortunately, I did not have a building permit due to the circumstances I found myself. I feel that I was targeted but the structure has already been demolished. It is so frustrating but it is what it is”.

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