“The reconstruction of the North West and South West regions of Cameroon will start in places considered ‘The Green Zones’ while work will begin in ‘Red Zones’ subsequently”. This was revealed by Paul Tasong, director of the reconstruction plan for the North West and the South West regions stated on the program “Actualité Hebdo” on CRTV Sunday 26th, April 2020.
To Paul Tasong, the process of rebuilding the two English speaking regions ravaged by the war for the restoration of independence of the people of Southern Cameroons will start in areas where insecurity no longer exists (Green Zones) while areas where fighting is still taking place (red zones) will be constructed after.
Questioned why government has not chosen the option of ensuring a total end of the war before the start of reconstruction process, Paul Tasong says reconstruction in the time of war has been experimented in several countries with success. He adds that in the process of reconstruction, government is equally on with peace talks.
The director of the reconstruction process however fails to state places identified already for the reconstruction process. “The people of the Anglophone regions of Cameroon have suffered and they are tired of the war. They want to return to normal life”, Paul Tasong adds.
The government of Cameroon wants to reconstruct houses destroyed in the course of the war like hospitals, bridges, schools, water, electricity, public buildings and other damages incurred.
Paul Tasong refutes allegations that his native Lebialem division in the South West region of Cameroon is one of the worst areas. “Lebialem has the lowest damages as compared to other divisions in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon. The people of Lebialem are peace loving people contrary to what is published on the social media”, he said.
In 2018, Paul Tasong equally denied allegations that the people of Lebialem fled to bushes for safety. To him, living in the bush was part of the culture of his people.
Many human rights groups in Cameroon have criticised government’s decision to engage in the process of reconstruction when bullets are still flying in the air in the regions. The government of Cameroon is to use 90 billion francs cfa for the reconstruction process. The director of the reconstruction plan says the government of Cameroon is to provide the funds alongside other development partners.
Mimi Mefo Info.
