Rule of law in Cameroon: Endless confusion

Whether the people respect the law or the law is going to no-go zones is a puzzle that I do not seem to understand. The relationship between the police on the one hand and street vendors on the other leaves much to desire.

There are regular confrontations between the police and street vendors. The police fight on a daily basis to see that the vendors keep some distance from the road. But the business persons are adamant.

On Saturday I witnessed a scene that marveled me. It was 2pm or so at Post Central when I saw a police pick-up drive past. A wave of commotion followed them as they jumped off at the speed of light. The uproar that accompanied the scene attracted people’s attention, and when I looked into that direction, I saw men in a little river-like valley. 

In spite of the water in the river, the vendors looked triumphantly satisfied with piles of cloths, belts and other merchandises, either on their heads or in their armpits. They were looking triumphantly at the police officers who stood helpless beside their vehicle.

I asked myself if it was a new drama. But it was not strange. It is a regular battle between both camps. And I kept wondering whether it was wrong or right for the police to control street vendors.

 If it were not wrong, why would the same people do the same thing over and over? Are Cameroonians too stubborn? Or are the police missing something? Better still it could be a goose that lays the golden egg for one of the parties, given that even when some of the goods are seized the owners sometimes still possess them through a means I do not know how.

Let the powers that be come to terms with the fact that the vendors have a problem that must be looked into as urgently as possible.