By Sally Oneke, Buea, Cameroon
The Mass Product Consumer Regulatory Authority (MIRAP), for the second time, organized cheap sales of basic commodities in Buea, the chief town of the South West Region of Cameroon. Farmers and vendors brought goods at the Bongo Square on Tuesday, Wednesday April 3rd and, 4th to sell products to the public at much reduced prices. This practice has been existing in other regions of Cameroon, yet it is still new in the South west Region.
Consumers Buying Eggs from Vendors at MIRAP Market Bongo Square, Buea, Cameroon
MIRAP is a program that was put in place by the government through the Ministry of Commerce after the 2008 Price increase in commodities that led to a rioting in Cameroon. The aim of this program is to reach consumers with basic commodities at cheap and affordable prices relative to the normal market prices. Vendors sell their products directly to consumers at bulk prices, reduced rates they would have sold to merchants. Hence this brings down prices at MIRAP events.
MIRAP Meat Market: Vendors Selling to Consumers at Bongo Squaure, Beau, Cameroon
MIRAP fixes and announce a date for the sales to take place; it puts in place shades for vendors who only come around with their products to sell. Vendors brought commodities of all kinds. Some includes plantains, rice, eggs, cow meat, fowls, vegetable oil, just to name a few.
The population responded positively to the sales, and this indicated that the prices during this sale were better off. Yet they ask the following question: “If such a sale can be organized, why can there not be price reduction in the general market. Nonetheless, it was a happy buying and selling day, and the people of Buea look forward to having another MIRAP day in the future.
Article and photography by Sally Oneke
By Sally Oneke, Beau, Cameroon
