UB student community in prolonged darkness, water scarcity amidst exams
Nchendzengang Tatah
UB South, a student residential area of the University of Buea (UB) popularly known as “Dirty South”, has witnessed over two weeks of power outages.
Students living in the area say the prolonged blackout which began June 27, is the worst they have experienced in the 2023/2024 academic year.
While the unavailability of electricity had not been for that long, it happened to unfold this time during a period earmarked for examinations at UB.
A second-year student who preferred anonymity explained that he had adopted the use of rechargeable bulbs to read, and power banks to keep his phone reachable for updates from school. The student who wears medicated glasses said the exercise had defects in his eyes with headaches and itches.
The current water scarcity in the area is not independent of the electricity seizure. “Due to the outage of power, our compound boreholes can’t deliver. It’s been difficult for us girls because we need to take our bath two times a day,” a female student said.
She mentioned that especially during their monthly flow, going distances for water is challenging as they have to follow a queue to fetch the precious liquid.
Coping mechanisms have included cleaning rooms fewer times and washing dressings on rainy days. “People have taken it as a business, especially truck pushers. They carry 5 to 8 twenty liters for 1000 FCFA francs.”
Insecurity in the area which is notorious for illegal activities and frequent police arrests is feared also to rise if the electrical situation is not handled soon.
