Illegal settlement on government land has been a major issue in most major towns in Cameroon, especially particular localities in Douala such as New Bell, Nkolmodo, Camp Yabassi and Ngange. The Minister incharge of State Property and Land Tenure, Pascal Anong Adi Bime, during a field visit urged those living in these areas to regularize their status in accordance with state regulations to become legal. The modalities are equally to be followed by those who are not on government land, but wish to acquire it for investment.
By Irene Zih Fon in Douala
These four neighbourhoods are some of the most highly populated in Douala, with the majority of occupants living in very unhealthy conditions and poverty striken. The circumstances under which they acquired the land on which they have lived over the years, has nothing to do with a ‘legal’ procedure. Some did not even know they were about to settle on government land, until when government agents started coming. So they do not have land titles, which is the only recognized proof the authorities need to see to be sure an occupant is legal.
With regards to the procedure to obtain government land, the Chief of Service at the Littoral Provincial Delegation of State Property and Land Tenure, Mr Joseph Tanlaka, said it all starts with obtaining a free application form from the Delegation. The applicant fills the form, attaches fiscal stamps on it, encloses a photocopy of his National Identity Card which should be legalized and signed by the police, and includes an estimate of the project existing or previewed for the land.
These documents are deposited at the Provincial Delegation, where the sum of 3.000Frs is paid at the Revenue Collector’s Office. A Commisioner thereafter visits the site to ensure the construction is in terms with proper town planning: it should not be located by the road side, should not block another building nor be near a drain. After this step a comprehensive report is prepared which is signed by all members of the commission set up for that purpose. Then, a Surveys Officer goes to the site, takes measurements and plants a corner stone.
The document is signed by the Minister who prepares decisions containing the price to pay for the land in question. The applicant can finally obtain a land title from the Registry after fulflling this procedure. The file is also signed by the Senior Divisional Officer of the municipality where the land is located.
Concerning penalties applied on those who fail to respect the regulation, “ they would be doing that at their own risk. If government decides to carry out a project on land which is illegally occupied, the area is demolished and the occupant will not be compensated. However, if the occupant has a land title, he shall be compensated and indicated another location where he can settle”, said the State Property official.
Mr Joseph Tanlaka added that most of the occupants complain that they do not have money. The Minister’s visit to Douala was to sensitize the people on the need to avoid trouble with the authorities, by living in conformity with the laws. There is no deadline given for this to be done, but it is better to prevent an ugly circumstance from happening than just hoping it would not happen.
Minister Anong Adi Bime also concerted with senior officials on maximizing the recovery of land taxes, as they are expected to contribute 3billion F CFA for the 2008 financial year, out of the 7 billion FCFA due from the department. A tax official disclosed that the department has reached a partnershp with that of State Property and Land Tenure, to ease the calculation and collection of land tax.
According to the programme the Delegation of State Property and Land Tenure, based on it’s technical knowledge, can easily identify who owns what in terms of land property. This information is vital to taxation officials to determine who pays how much as land tax, which is 0.1% of the value of investment found on any given land. The investment is equivalent to the cost of and construction on the land. © The Entrepreneur Newspaper 2008. All Rights Reserved
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