BY SIMON NDIVE KALLA
The Mayor of Idenau council,Tonde Lifanje Gabriel has announced several measures to boost the tourism sector in the municipality so as to generate more income for the council.
Amongst some of the measures announced was the renovation of the German tower constructed in 1913 which the mayor argued, if renovated, will change the face of Idenau and attract tourists especially as Cameroon will host the 2019 African Cup of Nations.
Mayor Tonde Lifanje made the revelation on Friday December 29, 2017 during an ordinary council session dedicated for the examination and adoption of 2018 draft budget.
The mayor said the draft budget, balanced in revenue and expenditure, stands at FCFA 660,000,000 which ties with figures of the previous year. He blamed this on the difficulties in collecting revenue caused by ghost towns and closure of the borders.
The Mayor however cited some developmental projects carried out in 2017 which include; the construction of an indoor fish market at Debuncha, handing of additional minimum package to all nursery and primary schools, both public and private in the municipality, ongoing construction of two classroom at G.S Enyenge,
Bulldozing, grading and filling of Batoke Etome road, the supply of some equipment to the veterinary center Idenau, 70% realization of the ongoing construction of Bibunde ring road, signing of partnership convention with TEXEL, a solar company from Holland, launching of Idenau market among others.
Mayor Tonde Lifanje also highlighted some challenges including; decrease in quantity of fish catches due to climate change, unauthorized fishing nets used by Chinese fishing strollers and others, money meant for the allocation for PIB 2017 by the state has not yet been released from the Regional treasury Buea till date.
On the sideline of Anglophone crisis, the Mayor said Eru market drastically dropped with little or no collection, total in revenue from the wharf due to the closure of the borders by the state for security reasons and continuous harassment of business men and women and ghost town phenomenon.
Mayor Tonde Lifanje however regretted that, due to the constant harassment the municipality can’t grow, he added that it is good the uniformed officers to do their job of protecting persons and property but condemned the constant harassments which he said, will make it difficult for the town to be develop.
The mayor assured a continues collaboration with the administrative and the security forces, improve on the hygiene and sanitation, improve on the cooperation with taxation agents for the collection of taxes, complete renovation and fencing of council chambers, follow up the construction of a befitting grand stand at Idenau, follow up construction of a banquet hall at Idenau organise Bomboko cultural festival among others.
On his part the representative of the SDO for Fako who double as supervisor authority for councils in Fako, the D.O Ngai Ngong Stephen told the Mayor and councillors that the budget should look realistic and that the budget should focus on the main problems facing the Idenau municipality.