by Evaristus Fonkah, Cameroon, April 1997
THEME = SOCIAL CONDIT.
Small eating houses can be found all over the town, (with the exception of purely residential areas), at street corners, sidewalks, intersections, markets, administrative quarters. They are made up of small huts, with one or two benches inside. These are small roadside eating malls and are one of the first sights that meet your eye as you enter Douala, whatever direction you come from.
From observation, it's clear that these little stand-up restaurants feed many people in Douala, with many people taking at least one meal a day in one of these roadside eating places.
Many employees, having completed their schooling or college, are now roaming the streets, and are overjoyed at finding something to do. They are prepared to take whatever is given them.
A large proportion of Cameroon's work-force is employed by the government as Civil Servants. These tend to stay in the public service because they have no alternative. Maximum salaries for High School teachers are about 80,000 CFA Francs ($160 US). Medical doctors earn from 90,000-120,000 CFA Francs ($180-$240 US). These professional people living on low incomes have the same responsibilities already mentioned, but have higher taxes to pay and an increasing high standard of living to maintain; plus having to look after relatives who have lost their jobs.
The general belief is, that those working in Cameroon's private sector are better off than those in the public sector. True, people "at the top" are fairly comfortable with what they earn. It, therefore, comes as a big surprise to learn what the average worker in the private sector earns. All average wage earners frequent the same eating places, and all have to strain to make ends meet.
Most workers start work at 7.30 a.m. With the transport problems in Douala, this means having to leave home before 6.30 am so as to arrive on time. This leaves them with hardly any time for breakfast before leaving home. Reaching the job site earlier than prescribed, will give them the opportunity to sit down to eat. But where will they find a place to eat, and one that is not too expensive? A road-side eating house, of course!
So what happens? Her family hand over their food money and she uses it to provide basic needs for her business. She sets up a make-shift eating house close to home, making sure it is in front of an off-licence, or an office, or any place where lots of people gather. It does not matter that other women are in the same area, running the same kind of business. All she needs is for someone to buy from her and she makes a minimum profit.
Try visiting these malls between 6.45 am and 8.00 am, as well as between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm. They're jammed with workers all enjoying what may be their one meal of the day. Some don't even get to sit down, but who cares? All they need is to get food - and maybe a beer inside them.
Most of the time, the food is left exposed to flies, cockroaches and ants while it is being served. Refuse abounds close to most of these places. No wonder that recently the Douala City Council embarked on a massive destruction of all make-shift stalls on the city streets. The town now looks neater and it is hoped that this will help to change the eating habits of Douala urban dwellers.
But where will they eat now?
END