A burst pipe in front of a student residential area has become the most coveted treasure for those living in that neighbourhood. Gallons, buckets, basins and other recipients have become the new weapons, and the fastest people to get to the pipe were considered luckiest, for they could carry as much water as they wanted. One could spot a crowd surrounding the pipe within every three afternoon hours, and that’s because water didn’t flow all day long either. For close to a week, they had been deprived of water in their homes. All the reserves they had were running dry, if not, were finished for some. The Bonduma neighbourhood in Buea had that phenomenon going on, as well as power outage which hit the town in general during that same period (from 19-24 April 2022). It all began on 19 April, with a torrential downpour in town, causing the power outage. As the days went by, water stopped flowing in homes. It became survival of the fittest. New areas were discovered, streams became crowded with people, and it was also an opportunity to know real friendships, considering who could be generous enough to share their water reserves. With several things to be done like bathing, laundry, dishes, cooking, and even consumption, one could not slack. The situation became worrisome because it went beyond three days. Talk less of the power which was restored only six days later, and that was in some spots of the town.
Water collection has also become a business in some areas. Persons are paid to carry water and transport to other people’s rooms. The prices vary, according to the distance and number of recipients. This has become a way of life in the town of legendary hospitality, given that not everyone can afford forages or mineral water on a daily basis. The people have channelled their pleas time without number to the higher authorities, but the latter seem to give a deaf ear. It is worth noting that this phenomenon does not only occur in Buea, but in all the other regions of the country. Water is like a precious good, and those who even have pipe-borne water are not totally satisfied because it is not 100% transparent. That is for Yaounde-based citizens who can confirm this.
As a Cameroonian reading this, how do you cope with water crisis? Or do you have no problem with water in your neighbourhood? Share your experiences in the comment section.
Water “Cry Scenes"
By
Suzanne Nanyonge