THE HIMO PROJECT
One major problem plaguing the City of Kumba is the regular occurrence of floods, especially during the rainy season. Houses located at the banks of streams flowing across the city are most often affected by floods which constitute environmental hazards with social consequences on the population. City dwellers residing nearer the overflowing streams are exposed to malaria causing mosquitoes as well as dangerous reptiles, such as snakes, that abound the vicinity. And this was the raison d’être of the famous HIMO PROJECT.
The HIMO is a joint project between the Kumba City Council and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT). Through the Statefunded project , the City of Kumba witnessed the construction of stone walls along the banks of the streams. The execution of first and second phases of the work began a couple of years ago, and covered the area comprising the Mambungise stream, which flows from the Kumba District Hospital and down to the Total Express Union, at Buea-Road . On his accession to the prestigious seat of City Mayor, Mr. Gregory N Mewanu, has begun the third phase of the HIMO project. The current canalization works run from the culvert located at the Krammer Avenue, to the brook, at the interior of Nkamlikum quarters. The good news is that about a hundred and fifty youths have been recruited to work for ten months , away from unemployment, drug abuse and other crimes!!! Today, they have become much more responsible as they plan to invest their income in small scale businesses. To the optimistic City Mayor of the Green City: “This is just the beginning of greater things to come in K-Town.
