As Christmas carols begin to fill the air in Douala, a heavy shadow hangs over the festive season as residents prepare for a dark Christmas due to the persistent instability of the city’s electricity grid.
Residents, already accustomed to erratic power cuts throughout the year, are now facing the prospect of celebrating Christmas in darkness, further dampening the holiday spirit.
Eneo, the national electricity company, has announced extended blackouts across several districts in Douala, citing ongoing maintenance works and unforeseen technical difficulties.
The news has triggered widespread scepticism and frustration among residents, who have borne the brunt of an unreliable power supply for months.
“This is just unacceptable,” fumed Marie Abena, a mother of two young children.
“We can barely manage with the regular power cuts, but to have no electricity on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is simply unimaginable. How are we supposed to cook, refrigerate food, or even enjoy festive lights?”
Many businesses in the city, particularly those that depend on refrigeration and lighting for their operations, share Abena’s concerns.
Restaurants, grocery stores, and even street vendors are worried about the potential losses they might incur if the blackouts disrupt their usual Christmas rush.
“This is our peak season,” explained Jean Ndjombo, owner of a small cafe in Bonamoussadi.
“We depend on reliable electricity to keep our food fresh and our customers comfortable. If there are prolonged blackouts on Christmas, it will have a devastating impact on our business.”
The scepticism towards Eneo’s assurances stems from a long history of unfulfilled promises and unreliable service.
Previous attempts at scheduled maintenance have often resulted in unplanned and extended outages, leaving residents fuming in the dark.
This, coupled with a general lack of transparency from the company, has eroded public trust.
“They always say they’re doing maintenance, but we never see any improvement,” said David Mbongo, a taxi driver.
“They just like to cut off our electricity whenever it suits them, and Christmas seems to be their favourite time to do it.”
As Christmas approaches, the uncertainty surrounding the power supply casts a pall over the festive mood.
While some residents hold onto a flicker of hope for a miracle reprieve, many are bracing themselves for a dark and frustrating Christmas.
Many neighbourhoods in Douala have gone for weeks now without electricity, among them Ndogpassi, Bonaberi, Bepanda, and many others.
Eneo says it might continue like that till January 2024.
