Nadesh E.

Bread vendors at the Mile 17 motor park in Buea have been on strike since Tuesday, October 19, 2021. They say the suppliers of the famous “Kumba Bread” have reduced the number of loaves they used to supply per carton and expect them to pay the same price.

There has been “Kumba Bread”, (popular bread originating from Kumba town) scarcity at the park since the beginning of the strike because vendors have refused to buy from suppliers.

When asked the reason for the fall in the number of loaves per carton, bakers complain of inflation in the prices of bread ingredients like flour, sugar, oil, etc. A litre of oil which used to cost 1000frs is now 1200frs and so have prices of other products increased.

Suppliers have therefore advised bread vendors to add 50frs on the price of a loaf so the customer incurs the cost. The vendors on the other hand have refused on the basis that selling a loaf at 300frs is already difficult and adding an extra fee of 50frs will make matter worse.

CNA has been following the story for many days now. A chat with some vendors at Mile 17 motor park in Buea, South West region, on Thursday, October 21, 202, revealed just one bread supplier (baker) is still selling at the same price and quantity. So, there has been bread scarcity at the park since the lone supplier cannot satisfy all his customers.

Tambe Bakor, a University of Buea graduate and trained teacher selling bread at Mile 17 told CNA the Bread Sellers Union at the Mile 17 motor park is still to decide on what decision to take.

“We do not know what to do but we cannot sell one Kumba Bread for 350 because nobody will buy. Imagine that we buy plastic papers for the bread and also buy that for the customer, talkless of our routine walking up and down under the sun, how much are we going to have at the end of the day” Bakor explained.

She added that the Bread Union suggested the Bakers reduce the size and quality of the bread and maintain the price. The suppliers have also refused on grounds that the Ministry of Commerce has given them a blueprint of what they are to produce and sell. They have so refused to share the cost with the Bread sellers and instead want the consumers to incur the cost.

Recent updates show some of the bread sold at Mile 17 motor park on October 22 was supplied from Kumba.

It should be noted that the majority of those selling bread at the park are either students, single mothers, and degree holders who are struggling to make ends meet. Most of them have said they rely on the sales of bread to pay their fees and take care of their families. They have expressed frustration on the recent turn out of events and are hoping things get better as the source of their livelihood is at stake.

This is a perfect example of how the crisis is affecting the common man. CDC oil mills and oil producers like Ndian Division have not been operational for a long time due to the crisis. This has caused a shortage in the supply of palm oil and the effects weigh more on the common man. If the crisis is not resolved any time soon, the situation will get worse.

#EndAnglophoneCrisis