ANB-BIA SUPPLEMENT

ISSUE/EDITION Nr 329 - 01/09/1997

CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE

Cameroon

Barely feeding

by Evaristus Fonkah, Cameroon, April 1997

THEME = SOCIAL CONDIT.

INTRODUCTION

The economic crisis which has been aggravated by a galloping degree of unemployment,
has greatly influenced the social and eating habits of Cameroonians.
The consequences of this has been, that shanty make-shift eating houses
have sprung up at all corners and streets of the country's main cities.
Cameroon's economic capital, Douala,
can serve as an example of this social life

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.

Small businesses

With Cameroon's present economic crisis, most of Douala's population are involved in some small business enterprises. Many owners have scarcely enough turnover to pay their taxes, give their workers a mediocre salary, and feed their own families. Considering the country's continuously deteriorating economic situation, those entrepreneurs who manage to survive, do not pay enough to attract qualified labour. Most employers negotiate individual salaries nowadays, and do not respect any basic salary regulations.

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.

Low salaries

Let's look at some examples. There's a young boy who works as a blacksmith's apprentice, and a young girl who works in a telephone/fax booth. Both earn about 30,000 CFA francs, (about $60 US per month). They have to pay rent, buy medicine, pay their transport to and from work and feed themselves. Then there's a night-watchman who earns about the same, but has the added responsibility of having to pay his children's school fees.

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!

How to set up an eating place

Now let us take a look at the night-watchman's family. Because the family cannot exist on the breadwinner's salary, the wife looks for ways and means to make up the shortfall. She decides to start selling food close to her home. But she has no capital to speak off. Likewise, she cannot afford a stall in the market, and even if she could, taxes would eventually drive her out of business.

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.

Health hazards

Helpful though these services may be in alleviating the hunger of many Cameroonians, it is worth remarking the effect they have on their health. Nobody seems worried how this food is prepared or the lack of hygiene. Cutlery, plates and cups used are frequently never washed, just wiped with a dirty rag.

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

CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE

PeaceLink 1997 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement