Interviewed By Walter Wilson Nana
The Mayor of Buea Municipality, Charles Mbella Moki is really dreaming big for his people. In this exclusive interview with iCameroon.com he looks forward to take the population along with him. How is he doing that and more? Read on!
How is the Mayor of Buea Municipality faring?
Thanks for coming and taking interest in the progress of our community. We’re grateful and we extend to your team our spirit of legendary hospitality.
How is the Buea Council coming on?
The Mayor of Buea Municipality, Charles Mbella Moki
We are doing well. This is a dynamic council, in most aspects of its operations. As we oversee the work of a dynamic population, we’re comfortable with the ongoing progress in the municipality. We also feel comfortable that there is an enabling environment for all the stakeholders of the council to work together and realise the noble mission, which is transforming the Buea community, highlighting the vision of the Council and making sure set goals come to fruition, especially the economic and structural development of the municipality. The building of the human capacity is not left out.
What’s the feedback you’re getting from the population?
We’ve a very cosmopolitan atmosphere out here; people coming from various corners of the country to participate, in a collective manner in achieving the vision set by the council as an institution as well as contribute in the development of the town. There are also various factors animating life in Buea; we’re a university town, an administrative town and other dynamics coming into play. The challenges are many; those coming from public authorities, retired individuals including former Governors, Ministers, Ambassadors and more. We’re also supporting the Regional Administration that is based in Buea, carry along a strong community presence in every aspect of community life, an active youth population that is always agitating and sensitive to injustice. As a leader that we’re, we must share in their plight; share in the measure of response coming from the community on what is happening. The seat on which I am is not easy but with God’s endless graces, we’re standing up to the challenges that go with it.
How far has the construction of the new edifice for Buea Council gone?
Our Council is operating on a strategic plan, which has had a first period of planning, with a life span of four years. However, it created room for continuity, which indicated that we had to go into the operational stage. Thanks to the second mandate we were given, it guaranteed continuity. Now, we are pursuing other aspects of the strategic plan. The plan embodies our vision, which by 2035, Buea should be a strong and economically active municipality, with adequate infrastructure, a secured and healthy environment. Therefore, our goals are progressively coming to fruition as expressed in the strategic plan. As part of that municipality authority, we’re doing our best to develop, maintain, enhance the socio-economic, cultural and physical wellbeing of our community. we’re providing a solid base for technical services, CIGs, CSOs, corporations and industries that wish to settle in our municipality. Hence, our strategic plan indicated that we had to build a modern structure to house the services of the Buea Council in the Regional headquarter at this time. Though it is an expensive venture, we engaged it. It is a decent structure that will stand the test of time and accommodate other development services in the Buea municipality. Upon completion, the building will cost FCFA 1 Billion, which we’re gradually assembling through partners and government sources. The government of Cameroon has been supportive of our initiatives and we’ve also become credit worthy to benefit from certain assistance.
Tell us something about the Build-Operate & Transfer strategy which is ongoing in the municipality.
The construction of the Buea Council edifice is not the only fallout from our strategic plan. The economic empowerment of our population is on the rise. Buea is not an industrial town, so, there are reasons for alternatives. We have embarked on the construction of rural markets, there is a modern market in Buea Town, in Clerks Quarter, we have a series of shopping malls sprouting thanks to ideas from the Council, at the Mile 17 neighbourhood, we are putting up a shopping centre, the Buea Central Market has just taken off and construction work is on the progress lane. We’re doing our job, we’ve launched a relentless battle against costly economics like the operation of motor bike riders in the heart of the Buea municipality, whose topography is not suitable for such operations, we’re evicting people who are selling haphazardly across the major streets of the municipality and the proliferation of containers and makeshift structures. We’re talking about sustainable development, cleaner cities, security oriented environment and the need to conform with green cities, which is trendy today. It is our responsibility and we will not stop doing it real good.
What’s happening in the health domain?
We’re investing and working with strategic partners in our community like the St. Veronica Medical Centre. They have always worked with Buea Council and been at the service of the community, bringing good health closer to our citizens, which is a response to the UN Millennium Development Goals. This, constitute aspects of the strategic plan we’ve been talking about. In addressing the sustainable management of our environment, we’ve also taken measures to preserve and protect the environment. We have brought in the garbage disposal company, HYSACAM. It is expensive but doing a lot of good to all of us. We are grateful to our population for the collaboration we’ve had from them so far. We pray that this understanding continues and we can only do better. When we work together we’ll realise big things. My duty for the last ten years has been to inspire the people of Buea to dream big and do ordinary things in an extraordinary manner. I’m comforted that today, we’ve results, there is a good balance sheet to present and we are grateful to God for giving us the opportunity to serve the people of Buea.
In the wake of geriatric care today in the world, is your council making moves in that direction?
In the council and Buea in general, we don’t practice stratification of any kind. We make efforts to address the need of our citizens in accordance to the emergency and how things unfold. Our survival yesterday, depended on the old people of today, so their existence today depends on those they took care of yesterday. It is our responsibility and we must stand up to it.
To the younger generation in the municipality, what’s your vision for them?
Young people everywhere in the world possess latent talents. When Pope John Paul II visited Cameroon in September 1996, he said Cameroon is a blessed nation, its youths are a vibrant source of hope for the country. I Belief in that statement. It is true. We’ve a class of young men and women who just need to be given an opportunity to excel and put their talents into proper use rather than creating an army of jobless people, who are invading our streets and neighbourhoods daily, creating problems and disorder. Tomorrow we shall be held responsible for not being able to cater for this class of people. The essential thing for us to do today is create opportunities for all of them. In our council, we’re doing the best we could. We’re done with the various opportunities for voluntary services in our council concerning young graduates from the university and drop-outs from school. We’re continuing in other aspects. A good chunk of our council staff are youthful, they have been given the opportunity to proof their worth and they’re delivering expected results. People should copy from us. We’ve the duty to share in the problems of the youths, accompany them for a better life tomorrow and make a Cameroon a trustee for posterity. The youths should be able to take ownership for what is required and make Cameroon a better place. We can only do it better at the Buea Council if we’ve suggestions and collaboration from all so that our children’s children will come to see peace and prosperity.
Is there any other thing you wish to share with our readers?
We’re thankful for this opportunity given to us to share with the public what is happening in our council and for coming to know what we are doing. For those who have contributed in building the modern day Buea and chipping in the necessary inputs, we say thank you. The civil society is getting stronger in our community; we recognise that and wish them well. We can do better and make Buea a better place than we met it. Let’s continue to work and with God’s grace, let’s put all hands on deck. We thank the St. Veronica Medical Centre for their up-to-date medical care they are offering to our population. Our municipality will give them all the needed support for them to become a reference across the country and beyond.
Thank you Mr Mayor!
May God bless you.
