Some market vendors of the Buea Municipality who attended the seminar organized by the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator on Wednesday 21 September on the theme “Office of the Public Independent Conciliator and the Associations of Market Vendors: “Collaborating to Reinforce Understanding for the Promotion and Defence of Rights and Obligation of Service Users,” at O.I.C Buea went back satisfied. They expressed gratitude and trust in the Office as they spoke to the press.
According to Tchounkin Merime, President of Muea Market, the seminar permitted him and his fellow traders to know their rights and obligations vis-à-vis the council, “I am happy that our mother called us to sensitize us on our rights and obligations with regards to the council.” The seminar he further explain, enabled him to present the problem of insecurity vendors face in the market. He is glad that the Public Independent Conciliator and the Mayor of the Buea municipality can put their heads together to solve this problem “I am glad that madam and the mayor can try to see what they can do to solve this problem”.
Mme Tabi Alice, member of the Plantain Union of Soppo Market was happy because the seminar gave her the opportunity to present some challenges they face in the market, “The meeting really sweet, I don air my mind. We thank mama for coming towards us” she told press men in Pidgin English.
During the seminar Mme Tabi Alice had voiced out her grievance concerning the discrimination they suffer as plantain vendors from market officials.
The market official she explained allow wholesale vendors from the Muyuka market to sell by the roadside to the detriment of plantain vendors situated inside the Soppo market. She said that while they buy from these wholesale vendors in Muyuka at the buying price of 5000frs CFA, they are unable to sell because the same vendors come to the Soppo market and sell by the roadside at a rate cheaper than the selling price, thereby hindering buyers to buy from them who sell inside the market.
Despite complaints made to the market Mistress of Soppo market, the situation has not change. After haven presented the problem to Mme the Public Independent Conciliator, she wished she intervenes for the problem to be solved. “I want mama to stop vendors from Muea, Muyuka and Mutengene markets from bringing their foodstuff here to Soppo market. They should sell in their own markets. They don’t have the right to sell here because we buy from them. I am happy she said she will meet the mayor to discuss the problem’’ she told journalists.
It is worth mentioning that the Union of Plantain vendors of the Soppo market Buea before the seminar had decided to take a violent action to stop the discrimination they have suffered for some years.
After haven presented the problem to Mme the Public Independent Conciliator during, they are hopeful that a peaceful solution can be identified to solve the problem.
