Decay in Governance, Decay on the Streets: Yaoundé’s Trash Crisis

The decay in the governance structures of Cameroon under President Biya’s 42-year rule is epitomised in the city of Yaounde. The persistent heaps of trash in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital, have become an alarming issue, particularly in the city’s market centres.

These mountains of refuse create a toxic atmosphere for both sellers and buyers, posing serious health risks to the population.

Anyone walking through the market centres encounters unpleasant odours daily, leaving many residents to wonder whether a temporary surge in waste during the festive season is to blame or if Hysacam, the waste management company, has gone on strike again.

Rubbish Hotspots

The Etoudi market serves as a prime example of this ongoing issue, where piles of trash frequently spill over into pedestrian walkways and motor roads. The situation has become so dire that some hawkers have turned the trash heaps into makeshift spaces for displaying their goods, laying out bags of items directly on the piles of refuse.

Frustrated market sellers have voiced their concerns, with one commenting, “Etoudi Market always has this problem of dirt pilling up and even extending to the roadside, causing problems with traffic. Sometimes, we take it upon ourselves to clean the area when it overflows onto the road.” Walking along the Melen market, heaps of waste extend from CHU Hospital to CHU mortuary centre and even onto the pedestrian walkway.

Similar trash problems are reported at Mokolo market, Elig Edzoa, and along streets like Decente Chapelle Ngousso, where refuse has spread into motor vehicle lanes. In some areas, residents have developed a troubling habit of placing their waste next to the trash bins, rather than using them properly. One passerby remarked, “I don’t understand why someone would throw their trash on the ground when the bin is right there. What would it cost to just put it in the trash can?”

The overwhelming dissatisfaction among the residents of Yaoundé regarding trash management is evident, and many are calling for improved waste disposal and a solution to the ongoing crisis.

Mimi Mefo Info