By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi in Buea
The streets of Buea came alive on Thursday, August 14, 2025, as the Mayor of Buea Council, David Mafani Namange Esq., spearheaded a massive clean-up campaign under the banner “Synergy of Stakeholders to Keep Buea Clean”. The initiative, which follows a high-profile meeting held last August 6, brought together government officials, business leaders, civil society actors, and environmental groups to chart a new course for sustainable waste management in the municipality.
Buea, once lauded as Cameroon’s cleanest city, has in recent years struggled with mounting waste management challenges. Piles of garbage along streets and markets had threatened not just the town’s reputation but also the health and well-being of its inhabitants. Thursday’s exercise, which began at the Central Market in Bwitingi, marked the practical implementation of a renewed resolve to restore order and cleanliness. Hysacam trucks, council vehicles, and hired trucks worked side by side to evacuate heaps of waste that had accumulated for months.
-Mayor Namange’s determination
Speaking to the press during the exercise, Mayor Namange underscored the urgency of the intervention and pointed out gaps in the waste management contract with Hysacam. “In Buea, the state pays about 95% of the contract, close to a billion francs annually, for Hysacam to manage our waste. They were supposed to bring in new trucks, bins, and equipment, but sadly they have failed to meet these obligations. The last time the town was properly cleared was about three months ago,” he lamented.
According to the Mayor, the dire situation forced the Council to rally influential elites, beginning with the Prime Minister, Head of Government, who offered tricycles to support the clean-up. Businesswoman Dr. Kate Kanyi-Tometi, CEO of Telcar Cocoa, contributed FCFA 10 million, while philanthropist Julius Njungo donated FCFA 5 million. The Regional Assembly also joined in with tricycles, while several individuals promised to provide trash cans to encourage proper disposal.
“This is a collective responsibility. When the town is clean, it benefits us all; when it is dirty, we all suffer,” the Mayor stressed, calling on residents to abandon the practice of indiscriminate littering and take ownership of their environment.
-Enforcement and sanctions
Mayor Mafani Namange further announced new council measures to deter bad practices. Children sent to dump waste in wheelbarrows without adult supervision will trigger a fine of FCFA 25,000 payable by parents. Businesses found dumping refuse along roadsides will face penalties of up to FCFA 250,000, while medical facilities caught discarding hazardous wastes inappropriately will be sealed until they pay equivalent fines. “This is about discipline. We cannot continue to tolerate indecency in the way waste is disposed of. Our health and dignity as a people depends on it,” the Mayor warned.
-Telcar Cocoa’s corporate responsibility
The clean-up received strong backing from Telcar Cocoa, a company that has consistently supported community well-being projects. Its Sustainability Director, Roland Besong Arrey, explained that the campaign aligns with Telcar’s Cocoa Promise vision, which emphasises community well-being and planet protection. “A healthy community needs to be clean. Beyond this campaign, Telcar has supported Buea through hospital donations, solar projects for women, scholarships, and boreholes. Sustainability is about today and tomorrow, so we are committed to follow-up and evaluation to ensure this effort endures,” Besong said.
-Environmental experts push for lasting change
Environmental advocates also stressed that long-term solutions lie not only in periodic clean-ups but in behavioural change and waste separation at the household level. Engineer Kunu Joel Dingana, President of the Green Initiatives Association, warned of the health dangers posed by improper disposal of organic waste. “About 60% of Buea’s waste is organic, yet little is being done to manage it. When dumped carelessly, it pollutes water sources and releases harmful gases. WHO statistics show that environmental problems account for 13,000 deaths annually in Cameroon. One in four people die each year due to environmental hazards, more than HIV/AIDS and cancer combined,” Dingana emphasised.
His association has been championing waste segregation and composting as practical solutions. “If households separate plastics from organics, recycling becomes easier. Composting reduces the volume of waste ending up on our streets. This fight is collective; council, elites, and individuals must all play their role,” he added.
-Youth at the center of the initiative
The campaign also doubled as an employment and awareness opportunity for young people. Holiday job programmes, traditionally supported by Telcar Cocoa, are now tied to environmental stewardship. Youth volunteers pruned trees, gathered waste, and helped sensitise the public.
Mayor Namange highlighted their importance: “These young people will become advocates of the Keep Buea Clean Synergy. They will speak to their peers, families, and communities. If they witness people littering, they will report it with evidence, and we will take action.”
-A collective responsibility
While the immediate clean-up required 150 trips to clear the backlog of waste, the council has pledged to institutionalise weekly exercises. A committee made up of council staff, civil society, NGOs, and youth representatives has been set up to manage stakeholder contributions transparently and ensure sustainability.
“Government contracts take time to review, but we will not stand by and watch Buea drown in filth. If it requires proposing the cancellation of Hysacam’s contract, we will present that to government,” the Mayor affirmed.
Thursday’s clean-up marked more than just the removal of dirt, it symbolised a renewed civic spirit. With the synergy of government, private sector, civil society, and ordinary citizens, Buea is charting a path to reclaim its title as Cameroon’s cleanest city. But for the initiative to succeed, experts and officials agree: sustainability must begin with every individual making a personal commitment to keep their environment clean.
As Mayor Namange aptly puts it: “It’s a win-win. When Buea is clean, we all win.”