Cameroon: epileptic electricity supply persists
By Makaia
Inhabitants of Douala and Yaounde have expressed their dissatisfaction with the constant power failure they say they have been experiencing for over a month. The worst part to them, is the fact that no government official has come out to say anything about the situation.
“ENEO wants us to enter the streets to protest before they knoiw they are killing us,” an angry inhabitant of the Logbaba neighborhood in Douala said.
The electricity distribution company ENEO have put up several communiques on their page claiming the distribution company SONATREL has repair works going on or claiming they have maintenance works going on but this is far from satisfactory.
“What works?? Everyday? Do they think we are fools? ENEO should stop this, it is getting too much,” an inhabitant of the Ngousso neighborhood in Yaounde told CNA.
“Do they realize some poeple are students and need electricity to study? Even with the high crime waves, they leave us in the darkness throughout the night and more and more people get attacked. How can they even be doing this in the middle of the dry season? Do they all want us to have heat rashes?” another angry inhabitant of Logbaba said.
Several businesses have been severely affected by the constant cuts.
“Imagine running a laundry service, a hair saloon or even having a small secretariat business with such cuts. We have no clients coming in yet taxes will be collected by the councils. The most annoying thing is that ENEO agents will still bring exhorbitant bills for us to pay. Pay how? Do we have electricity? Do we even work?” Eveline, a hair stylist cried out.
“This is the holiday period and our kids are home. How do we keep children entertained when there is no electricity?” a parent wondered.
An inside source at ENEO who spoke on the condition of anonymity explained that 2 of the countries production units had stopped working becuase they are owed over F CFA 150 billion by the government and ENEO in turn is uanble to pay their partners. Our source added that the situation will remain the same until the government pays all they owe.
The electricity problem observed in several regions of the country is clearly far from over and the population is in pain while the government maintains its legendary silence.
