Markets: The Urgency Of Reorganisation

Asking that something be done about the organisation of markets throughout the country is an innuendo. The situation is simply chaotic! There are people who fear to go to certain markets because of the risks. A recent worry expressed in Yaounde on 8 November, 2024 by the City Mayor, says it all about the need for a change in the way such places of high frequentation operate in the capital city. He was speaking to hawkers in the neighbourhoods of Mokolo Elobi and Elig-Effa. This followed a decision by the City Council on 1st November, 2024 giving the traders between 4-20 November, 2024 to relocate to a new site allotted for their activities. Officials say the over one-hectare surface area which has been provided for the hawkers can harbour 250 stores and 2,700 counters for small business holders. But over two weeks after the decision by the City Council, nobody has moved to the site. As if it is a race for no trophy, everyone seems to be waiting to see who will take the first step to leave for the new location. In reality, what is happening in Mokolo and other markets in Yaounde is just a tip of the iceberg. Throughout the country, the situation in markets is just deplorable. Fruits and dresses fight for the same market spaces, shoes and buckets equally on the same location; while fruits are either kept on the bare floor or near sewage waters for buyers to have their fair-share of the filth and bacteria as they purchase the items. A Subdivisional council mayor in Yaounde virtually has to ask hawkers every day to clear the way for him to get out of his home. The traders have extended the make-shift market to the front of his door and he is obliged to watch the situation helplessly. This litany of problems includes those who abandon market shops to display their goods by the roadside thereby occupying places that are meant either for pedestrians or vehicles. If those with shops prefer hanging outside or by the sidewalks with their goods, it is because they are scared that those who carry items in their hands for sale or move along the streets with their goods will block all the customers from getting to the shops.  The situation in most markets does not facilitate selling and buying. Those not familiar with the conditions in several markets will hardly find their bearing.     
In most super markets or shopping malls, there is a certain arrangement of goods that permits customers to easily navigate the shelves in search of what to purchase. By having particular items in specific locations, the trader facilitates things for customers who often waste no time looking for what to buy. Eye-shopping in that case becomes a form of pleasure. Unfortunately, such facilitation exists only in theory in most markets. People deliberately refuse to use available spaces in an organised manner in markets. The result is generalised confusion where no one respects the rules and room is thereby given for various forms of delinquencies as well.     
One of the most visible signs of the malaise that exists in market settings in the country is the level of filth. People make their way through muddy and dusty allies mixed with the debris from different articles on sale. Banana peelings, maize shells, left overs of oranges, and many others are disposed of without consideration for hygiene and sanitation.  Sewage water circulates freely across some markets and no one seems to care about the ugly scenario. Even in local councils where clean-up days are undertaken, people rather stay at home only waiting for when the official time for carrying out the activity to be over for them to open their stores. No one bothers to keep the vicinities clean. The irony becomes more glaring when council workers in the midst of the nasty environment go about collecting taxes from the traders. There could be no better way of giving the greenlight to people in abnormal situations to operate with clear consciences. Although some of the...