Festive Spirit Dampened by Power Shortages in Douala

Douala, Cameroon: Douala, Cameroon’s commercial center, has experienced ongoing power shortages during the holiday season, particularly in the Logpom neighbourhood. Residents have lamented the disruption, which hampered their Christmas celebrations and caused additional inconvenience.

For many Logpom residents, the lack of power posed a significant obstacle to their Christmas traditions. Christmas in Cameroon typically involves setting up Christmas trees, enjoying family feasts, exchanging gifts, and preparing elaborate meals. However, darkness hit Logpom, plunging homes into sweltering heat and exposing residents to mosquito bites.

One resident who spoke to Equinoxe TV said, “There was absolutely no light on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.” “Even now, we’re still in the dark. The children couldn’t sleep because of the heat. We had to open the windows, but then we became targets for mosquitoes.”

Another resident expressed disappointment, stating, “We prepared for the celebrations like everyone else, but we didn’t expect electricity to be such a barrier.” The power outage even impacted leftover food, with one resident bemoaning, “I bought all this food last Friday, and now it’s all spoiled because of the power cut.”

Compounding the frustration was the lack of running water, as most boreholes rely on electricity to function.

Despite the challenges, a glimmer of hope emerged with the African Development Bank’s recent €74 million loan to Cameroon to improve the country’s electricity supply. Additionally, the upcoming inauguration of the Nachtigal hydropower plant in January 2024 holds promise for alleviating some of the electricity woes.

While the festive spirit may have been dampened in Douala this year, residents look forward to brighter days ahead, powered by reliable electricity and the potential of improved infrastructure.

Mimi Mefo Info