The Mayor of Tombel Council in Kupe Muanenguba Division of the South West Region, Ngassa Rose Menone and the Tombel Village Community Land Committee are at war over ceded land from the Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC.
The bad blood between the municipal authorities came to the public sphere during a recent budgetary session of the Tombel Council.
According to the mayor, the Tombel Village Community Land Committee is fake. She also accused members of the committee of engaging in the illegal sale of land at the Tombel New Layout.
She lamented that the setting up of the Committee was fake. This, she said is because the traditional ruler of Tombel Chief Bernard Salle Ebong, who joined his ancestors in 2022 has not been replaced.
Mayor Ngassa said, the Council has a vital role to play in the management of community land. She expressed shock over what she said is the creation of theand Committee without the concern of the Council.
She pleaded with the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Kupe Muanenguba, Mungambo Ekema William, to intervene before the situation goes off hand.
It should be noted that in a communiqué signed on the 28th of December 2023, the Land Committee Chairman of the Tombel Village Community Land, Eko Manfred Epie, had informed the public of the availability of plots for sale at the Tombel New Layout. He had indicated in the release that the said the plots are open to all Tombel inhabitants in need of plots.
According to the announcement, the current site is near Government Secondary School, GSS Ngobenyo Tombel behind TRADEX filling station.
“Plots are very limited and will be allocated on first come first serve basis. Would-be beneficiaries shall be expected to pay a minimal land development fee of FCFA 300.000. Interested persons or groups should contact the land committee for more information,” the Eko signed release had indicated.
Other members of the committee include; Hipolite Ngalame Kome, secretary; Njitone Williongton, Field Coordinator; Epie Ngome Walters, Financial Secretary and Ediage Francis Bwang as treasurer.
Land Committee Fires Back
Speaking to The Ultimate, Eko said as President of Tombel Traditional Council, he has the right to manage traditional issues on behalf of the community in the absence of a chief.
He narrated that around 1960, Tombel Chiefdom applied for 186 hectares of land from the Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC.
Eko disclosed that in 1968, CDC ceded 25 hectares of land to Tombel Chiefdom and in 2012, another 25 hectares was given to the chiefdom.
He wondered why the mayor never questioned the CDC for ceding land to the Tombel Chiefdom and not the Council.
“CDC has recently ceded 30 hectares of land to Tombel Chiefdom again and I am the head of the land community. Note should be taken that Tombel Council never applied for land. It is the Chiefdom that applies and manages the land,” he added.
According to him, the chiefdom can only make consultation with the Tombel Council where necessary.
“Even CDC land ceded in Limbe goes to the chiefdom and not the council. Why is the case of Tombel treated as a special thing? Where is the illegality here? If the Council needs land, they too should apply to CDC to surrender their own land.” Eko added.
It should be noted that Eko is one of the contenders to the vacant Tombel Chieftaincy stool.
Enter Secretary General
Also speaking to The Ultimate, Hipolite Ngalame Kome secretary of the Tombel Village Community Land described the Mayor’s outing as a show of ignorance of the law and bad faith.
He said even without a chief in Tombel, the traditional council headed by Eko has been working on behalf of the community.
Ngalame revealed that since the CDC land was released to the Tombel community, they have worked in collaboration with the administration and surveyors to map out the land which involves a lot of money.
He said they decided to call for token contributions from interested persons to use the money to develop the land and open the streets.
“This has been done in full knowledge of the administration. We have made out first quarter reports, open up streets, mapped out plots and we shall subsequently be distributing to those who have paid,” Ngalame said.
By Ahone Jessy
