Abstract

This study was on the insecurity and contemporary development of the Buea municipality. The sample size for this study is 39 respondents selected from Buea. The study uses mixed-method research and was governed by three research objectives which were; to identify the causes of insecurity in Buea, to examine the effects of insecurity on the contemporary development of the Buea municipality, and to evaluate the measures put in place to tackle insecurity in Buea.

The objectives included identifying the causes of insecurity in Buea, to examine the effects of insecurity in Buea. The main theory for this work was the human security theory. The theoretical framework adopted for this work is the human security approach propounded by Scholars such as Mary Kaldor, Kofi Anan, Thomas, and Roberts.

The theory was developed in 1992. The concept emerged after the Cold War and was first propounded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in1994. Unlike the traditional goal of national security which emphasized the defense of the state from external threats, the central argument of this approach is that security should focus on the individual because a people-centered view of security is required for national, regional, and global stability.

This is premised on the fact that threats to human life emanate not only from situations of violent conflicts but other non-conflict sources of threats such as poverty, infectious diseases, terrorism, environmental degradation, etc. (Saliu, Luqman and Abdullahi 2007). Human Security is therefore concerned with the protection of people from critical and life-threatening dangers. The methodology used for this work was mixed-method research to accommodate the topic.

The findings of this research were that insecurity has hindered the development of the Buea municipality. The conclusion was that insecurity and development are interwoven and insecurity. The Buea Council was to enforce security through local vigilantes.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study

By the early 1990sin the immediate post-Cold War period, there was great optimism that a new world order of cooperation between the great powers would bring peace and prosperity to the world.  A major symbol of the new order was the reunification of Germany.

The UN Security Council, freed of the Cold War confrontation, had approved military intervention against  Iraq to repel aggression and Operation Restore Hope to create a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian aid in Somalia.

The Security Council had also given its blessing to a peace settlement in Cambodia which included a new democratic constitution, free-market economy, and a promise of international cooperation for reconstruction and development.  However, the early hope for a new order faded as the US-led intervention in Somalia soured and ended in withdrawal, and as the UN failed to respond early to state-sponsored violence in Rwanda and the crisis in Bosnia (Ubatu, 1998).

A decade later, such intra-state conflict and violence had increased, particularly in Africa, where many people have been victims of their own states rather than being protected by them.  Much of this violence against citizens occurred in a context of poverty and ethnic division, and in the absence of basic political and human rights. Recognizing these as both security and humanitarian concerns, the international community has been increasingly engaged in conflict resolution initiatives, peacebuilding, and post-conflict development activities in many countries.

The post-Cold War security environment has thus seen a close and deepening association of individual  and state  security and an  intertwining of international  and state responsibilities for human security (Fukia, 2003)

In 1994, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its annual Human Development Report drew attention to the widespread conflict and violence and identified the underlying poverty and underdevelopment as a root cause of human insecurity.

The Report questioned the traditional state-centric concept of security and argued that there was a need for a new approach based on a comprehensive concept of human security embracing economic and social rights (freedom from poverty, hunger, disease, violence, and environmental degradation) and political and cultural rights (freedom to exercise basic human rights and freedoms and cultural identity).  Human security, it argued, corresponded to the right of individuals to “freedom from want and freedom from fear” (UN, 1948)

Political and economic insecurity in the Buea municipality is on the increase and it is a major challenge to the contemporary development of Buea. Although some people in society feel the problem, is insignificant and its’ not being handled in all its entirety. This problem is a threat to the contemporary development of the Buea municipality as it threatens to bring down the economic sector and it is as well causing political chaos (Buea Council, 2013).

The Buea municipality was created on the 27th of June 1997 by presidential decree No 77/203/. The Buea municipality has a surface area of 870square KM, 67 villages, four districts identified urban spaces. Buea was the colonial capital of German Kamerun to the capital of southern Cameroon from 1949 until 1961 and the capital of West Cameroon until 1972 when Ahmadou Ahidjo abolished the federation.

The root of the anglophone crisis today which is one of the most traumatizing events causing insecurity could be traced back to the 1990s precisely 1961 where the political elites of two countries with different legacies. One French, the other British agreed on the formation of a federated state.

The expectation of these continues to an extent were not as expected especially that of the British. The constitution provided by both parties advocated for two different constitutions, nationality and worst both parties were not in one accord .this brought a lot of insecurity due to the fact that the minority English speaking ones were subjects to the majority French who marginalized the British southern Cameroonians due to their minority state and weak leaders who were after their own benefits.

Tea is a growing and important industry, especially in Tole. The CDC Tole tea plantation was a plantation that brought a lot of development to the people of the Buea municipality as well as job opportunities.

The CDC Tole tea was sold in 2002 at 1.5 billion. It was replaced by Cameroon tea estates (CTE) after its privatization in 2002, there were so many economic setbacks as a result of the economic crisis state parastatals were privatized. They had diminishing effects on the population. There was a reduction of labor, no allowances, and deplorable working conditions (Bouddih, 2006).

In 2008, an economic crisis broke out again in Cameroon. There was an increase in prices, loss of government revenue. It led to the closure of economic missions in foreign embassies from Cameroon, reduction in government spendings. Critics blame government stewardship and the government blamed it for the fall of prices of export commodities (Andy, 2000).

During all this crisis and upsets, it hindered development, created a sense of insecurity and fear, retarded economic growth increased unemployment. But over the past two years, from the year 2016 to 2018, there has been a rapid increase in the rate of insecurity. Over the past years, it has led to the displacement of so many persons. The escalating insecurity issues have led to a huge loss in the Buea municipality and the country as a whole.

An escalation of the political crisis in Cameroon’s anglophone regions threatens to derail one of the strongest growing economics in sub-Saharan Africa. The has been a huge drop in the turnover of the business in the Buea municipality.

More so, it has reduced business trips to Douala (the economic capital of Cameroon) for purposes. A study also revealed that the country’s economic capital Douala is already facing serious problems with regards to the current struggle since they depend on business people from the southwest region particularly those who buy goods and retail in their region.

Apart from Douala, many other French-speaking towns in the country are also greatly affected. The big food markets in the Buea municipality is affected greatly since buyers and traders evacuated from the municipality thereby causing an increase in price to some foodstuffs sold in those big food markets. (Buea Council, 2019)

While civil servants have continuously been collecting their salaries irrespective of the current crisis, others particularly teachers in the private sector are pushed to do a mélange of other jobs in order to survive. Apart from a civil servants and teachers, traveling agencies have also been hit hard. Since big customers are traders and so when there is a slowdown in economic activities, automatically traveling agencies are affected. (Crisis Group, 2019).

The southwest region is rich in palm oil production and having huge agro-industries like CDC and PAMOL and other big economic activities like cocoa production is indisputably the first amongst the ten regions in terms of contribution to the economy.

If this trend continues, the Buea municipality will ensure much greater losses. Thousands of people have lost their lives and some are jobless. The factors responsible for this can no longer be united. (The Post Newspaper, No 1522)

1.2 Statement of the problem

The main or overall research problem here is that irrespective of the challenge which insecurity brings to the economic and political aspects of the economy or sector of Buea little has been done to remedy the problem and to analyze its impact on society. Over the past three years, a good number of people have been killed roughly.

These people include children to youths and adults. This problem or insecurity is the reason for many teenage pregnancies. Many schools drop out displaced persons, crumbled businesses, deserted houses, and ghost towns.

The effect of this insecurity has had numerous consequences on the population. It has led to the shutdown of so many businesses and towns and not only so, but it has resulted in the redundant growth of businesses, most especially smaller businesses.

The territory is endowed with enough natural resources of land available for the construction of factories and accommodation as well as the development of agribusinesses. All through this town is endowed with much potential, the uncontrolled level of insecurity makes it difficult for businesses to grow coupled with this; several people are taking advantage of the current situation to carry out dubious activities.

Potential investors who could make the town grow by their investment have stayed away due to no guarantee of this investment. Even the touristic sites which generate income for the municipality of Buea because of the fear of insecurity, don’t longer visit.

Also, instability is another problem. When there is insecurity, people cannot go on with their regular day-to-day activities because of the uncertainty of what will happen. So, insecurity led to instability and hence a pause in development.

All these factors have negative effects on development in the Buea municipality. This makes it necessary to conduct a study of this nature to identify the constraints and possible solutions to curb insecurity and foster the development of the Buea Municipality.

1.3 Research questions

1. What is the main cause of insecurity in Buea?
2. How has it hindered development in the Buea municipality as well as its effects on the people of the Buea municipality?
3. What can be done to improve the situation of insecurity and foster development?