BY Ndumbe Bell J.G in Douala
The representative of the Mayor of Douala City Council has condemned unscrupulous actors in the domain
n of building and construction for the heartthrobbing and devastating consequences faced during the relatively regular collapse of high-rise building and inudations in Douala and elsewhere in Cameroon.
He made this report at the just-ended second edition of Exposition AFRIBAT Cameroon 2025, which was planned to be chaired by the Prime Minister, Head of Government but he was represented by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MINHDU). The event was co-sponsored by MINDHU as well as the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Technological Development. It was co-organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Cameroon (CCIMC) and their counterpart, the SFAX Chamber of Commerce of Tunisia.
The event served as a high-level platform for consultations and exchange of experiences and ideas, rooted to avoid further bloodshed, loss of lives and property and set up proposals to deal with the anomalies of all the sectors and the actors. This edition of AFRIBAT Cameroon 2025 which was teleguided by the main theme ‘Build sustainably to better live together’, started on the 1st but formally opened on April 2nd and ended on the Saturday April 5 in Douala BWH.
In a joint audience of Tunisian and Cameroonian experts, business leaders, stakeholders, opinion leaders and professionals in all the sectors of construction, the General Manager of AFRIBAT Cameroon hailed the robust participation of partners and stakeholders.
He said their presence there was to build better structures in the long-term, so all the hassles meddling in this sector need to be avoided. “AFRIBAT is here to rescue and support government’s sustainable goals”, he said. He ordered a moment of silence during video in which was shown the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Cameroon, Christophe Eken eulogising the late President of the Chamber of Commerce of Tunisia who presided over the 1st edition of AFRIBAT in Yaoundé.
The D.G of the Tunisian Chamber of Commerce, Hiefen Elloumi noted that it is their long term convivial relationship with the Chamber of Commerce of Cameroon that cumulated in the creation of AFRIBAT and reiterated the main objectives. An invitation of the Chamber of Commerce of Cameroon was declared.
In an interview, Elloumi said this was a high-level platform to exchange experiences and set up proposals to realise the challenge of the 2025 theme.
The President of the Chamber of Commerce of Cameroon, Hon. Christophe Eken expressed his gratitude for the strong participation of the Tunisian delegation, the Chadians whom he invited, the public and private stakeholders, partners and his staff who worked tirelessly to make the occasion a resounding success. He acknowledged that the solidarity for the showcasing of the Tunisian handiwork and exchange is taking place under the guise of decentralisation and asked professionals to deepen their professionalism so as to avoid the collapse of buildings which were already highlighted by the Mayor of Douala.
Some other objectives, he mentioned were among other things, the promotion of the norms, access to financing and Pan-African Free Trade Zone (also known as ZLECAF).
In an interview with the press, Hon. Christophe Eken said; “Many say why Tunisia? They have more than 46 years of experience in this domain and we are just beginning, so there is much to learn from their experiences and also sharing our ideas together. For example, one should not build in Europe as one builds in Africa. In Europe, one should build at the eastern flank because it is cold there. In Africa, one must build at the western flank where the sun sets because it is hot here.” He said that dwellings and their urban structures or anywhere are the fundamental necessities of every citizen. So, he said our experts some of whom are at the artisanal stage, have got to respect the norms and take into consideration the issues of climate change, among others.
The Head of Delegation of the Tunisian Embassy, Mohammed Ansine Amman thanked the Cameroonian government for the long-term bilateral relations. He outlined a long list of achievements of these bilateral relationships and its impact in the cultural, business, visa and other diplomatic channels like urban development.
According to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MINHDU), Nna Mathurin, who was also mandated to represent the Head of Government, he expressed his gratitude and warm welcome to the Tunisian delegation, the Chamber of Commerce, the sponsors, partners and all other participants in their ranks and file, before declaring the ceremony open.
This was closely followed by the signing of a MOU between the Iranian Trade Centre and the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce including ribbon cutting.
In his presentation, the Director-General of Public Works, Eloungou Jean Michel said the government has asked the ministry to construct more trunk A, B and other community roads now left in the context of decentralisation.
A series of workshops with sub-themes followed in the domains of infrastructural problems, access to financing, inadequate feasibility studies, durability, resilience in climate change, government programmes in the domain, the regulator, gender participation of women and so on.
In one of the workshops meant to include women in a centuries-old-male -dominated sector, Josiane Ayafor Bolle, the General Manager of a finishing company called BACS SARL, acknowledged the organisational power of AFRIBAT and continued that the justification of the workshop was to promote the inclusion of women to have the capacity to function as metallic or aluminum workers, carpenters, electricians, tile layers or marbles, and equally compete with men.
Some prizes were won for transforming local materials, an innovation which is greatly encouraged, among others.