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| The Wum Main Market waiting for traders and buyers |
Located in Wum central town, The Wum Main Market used to
boom in the good old days, attracting vendors and buyers from Weh, Esu,
Benakuma, Befang, Bafut, Ngie, Bamenda and beyond. Wum Main Market was noted
for maize, plantains, cocoyam, tomatoes, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, palm oil,
amongst others.
Before the advent of the current crisis, Wum Main market was
waxing strong. Few months after the crisis, the Wum Main Market began to
breathe its last breath, begging for a kiss of life. The council tried some
renovation works by lobbying for the construction of twenty four new sheds but
it was like too late. The crisis hammered the last nail on Wum Main market's
coffin, as bandits took advantage of the stalemate to loot the sheds.
On several occasions, night watch had engaged armed robbers in
a fierce fight resulting to the abandonment of the robbers’ booty. Many had
feared that Wum Main market will be burnt down as was the case in other sub
divisions. Luckily enough it never happened. Since the “non state armed groups had to retaliate to clean their tarnished
image and that of the defense and security forces, as they were both accused of
being behind the robberies.
But unfortunately, despite not being burnt, the Wum Main
market still ended up dying. The market is today a shadow of itself. The business
arena that was once booming, is likened to the last kick of a dying horse.
Businessmen are yet to feel coins in their palms or see the affluence of
customers like in those old good days of yore-glamour.
How buyers managed to communicate with sellers, no one can
tell. Satellite markets often surfaced in several parts of Wum municipality.
After all, is it often said that when the going gets tough, the tough get going?
Many food items and other farm produce are
often sold in these satellite markets, and even on the weekly rotative market
days, to enable buyers, the population, to get what they need. One of
the vegetable sellers, struggling to make ends meet told me the unbearable
situation of the country has pushed them to be going through such an
experience. She said because of the numerous ghost towns, they can't have enough to
satisfy the needs of the population and the buyam sellam and as a result, they
had to carry their produce from the suburbs on their heads and trek to some of
the satellite markets, covering for some, a distance of over 5km so as to meet
with buyers. As to how business was faring, she said "We are just managing. Only few buyers are even coming. Because of the
distortion, many can't identify where to now locate us."
One of the businesses that has been hardly hit because of
the current stalemate is the pig business. Many villagers had been selling
their pigs at giveaway prices to buyers who now take advantage of the
situation. This is because a bag of animal feed that used to sell at 3000F has suddenly
skyrocketed to 5000 and the stock that was left in the stores is exhausted.
Dealers in the suburbs can no longer have supply from Bamenda because of the
road blocks.
Transport agencies don't longer exist this has led to an astronomic increase in transport fares
leaving at times no other option to passengers to choose. Those who hadn't sold
their pigs are now regretting because no one knows tomorrow.
One of
the pig dealer narrated the difficulties he faces; "The situation in town now is rough. Very soon we will be facing
difficulties to feed them. So we are left with no option than to remove them
and sell." To this, the infuriated and emaciated pig farmer added; "There's no profit. Instead we are
selling at a loss because there's no means for buyers to even come and
buy."
The
sand-sand boys of Agulli, Bangwe, Weh, Esu and Befang have not been spared. In
the past, especially during summer holidays, many young boys earned a living
from extracting sand from the rivers. There are students who paid their fees,
rents and procured other school needs with money they worked through the sale
of sand. But right now, hips of fine sand have been grounded along the banks of
river Menchum and other rivers. Tippers can't access these rivers because of
road blocks.
At the end, the idle mind of these young boys and men will
automatically become the devil's workshop. No doubt many of the members of the
gang that gave sleepless nights to the inhabitants of Wum municipality, were
all youngsters.
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| In those old good days |
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