By Ngunyi Sonita Nwohtazie
MENJI, PAV – In the misty highlands of Cameroon’s South West Region, where the Lebialem Division once stood eerily quiet, its markets subdued, and its once-bustling streets surrendered to the rhythms of rainfall and sunrise, a powerful transformation is unfolding. Today, a spirited resurgence of commerce and community life is breathing renewed vitality into the heart of Menji, the divisional headquarters, signaling a determined return to economic normalcy.
For years, the echoes of uncertainty had silenced the energetic hum of daily trade that once defined this agrarian stronghold. Businesses shuttered, traders relocated, and the movement of goods and people dwindled dramatically. Yet, against this backdrop of adversity, Lebialem is slowly but unmistakably rewriting its narrative.
Walking through Menji today tells a profoundly different story. The streets, once sparsely populated, now display a lively mosaic of commercial activity. Freshly painted storefronts line the town’s modest roads; fashion boutiques showcase colourful garments; food vendors all over and beer parlours buzzing with animated conversations; building material shops signal ongoing construction; and mechanic workshops echo with the metallic rhythm of tools meeting engines.
For Aminatou, a pharmacist who has lived and worked in Menji for the past four years, the change is both visible and encouraging. “Living here for the past four years while operating my pharmacy and working with the Integrated Health Centre, I can confidently say that the difference between last year and this year is remarkable,” she explains with quiet optimism. “Every day we see new shops opening. People are returning. Economically, the town is slowly regaining its strength.”
Her observation is echoed by many residents who have chosen to remain in the division despite difficult years. Their perseverance has become the backbone of Menji’s gradual economic recovery.
Local businessman Amin Cornelius believes that while the road to full recovery remains long, the current momentum represents a critical turning point. “As business people, we have tried to sustain the division since the crisis began,” he says. “From my judgment, things are gradually coming back to life. The environment is becoming more business-friendly again.”
He acknowledges that customer numbers are still modest but insists the improvement is undeniable. “For now, we don’t have the volume of customers we used to enjoy, but it is far better than what we experienced three or four years ago. When you look around today and see the number of businesses operating in Menji, you realise that real progress is taking place.”
Few individuals understand this transformation better than Ignatius Atabong, a veteran trader who has been conducting business in Menji since the early 1990s. For him, the town’s rebirth is akin to a seed finally breaking through hardened soil.
“Menji is like a buried seed that has finally germinated,” he reflects thoughtfully. “I have been doing business here since the 1990s, and I am grateful for the winds of change blowing across the town. Business is steadily growing again.”
According to Atabong, the region’s rich agricultural potential will continue to fuel commercial growth. “The land here is incredibly fertile,” he adds. “Our farms produce abundant food crops, and that naturally supports trade. When agriculture thrives, business follows.”
The symbolic significance of Menji’s revival was underscored recently when the Fon of Fontem and Head of the Lebang Fondom, His Royal Majesty Fon Asabaton Fontem, paid an unannounced visit to the town. What he witnessed left him both surprised and encouraged.
“Being present in Menji today, even though it is not a market day and seeing so many businesses open is a strong indication that the narrative surrounding this town is changing,” the traditional ruler remarked.
Yet, even as economic life gradually returns, significant challenges remain. Chief among them is the absence of reliable electricity, a factor that continues to limit the full potential of local enterprises.
Most businesses currently depend on solar systems to power their operations, an innovative but often insufficient alternative for sustained commercial expansion. Fon Asabaton Fontem used the occasion to urge the government to accelerate efforts to restore electricity to the division, describing it as a crucial step in consolidating the gains already made.
“With these many businesses operating mostly on solar power, I sincerely appeal to the government to hasten efforts to restore electricity in Lebialem,” he said. “It will reassure our people and encourage more of them to return home and invest in the local economy.”
The Fon also highlighted ongoing efforts by the community itself to rebuild essential structures and restore a sense of stability. “As a people, we are equally making efforts to provide necessities and improve our living conditions,” he noted. “I want to call on all sons and daughters of Lebang, wherever they may be, that Lebang is alive again. Lebialem is gradually returning.”
Indeed, the revival of commerce in Menji did not occur in isolation. It forms part of a broader recovery effort across the division. In recent years, schools, both primary and secondary, have progressively reopened, allowing children to resume their education after prolonged disruptions. Solar-powered streetlights now illuminate sections of the town at night, enhancing security and encouraging evening economic activity. Road construction projects are also underway, promising improved connectivity with neighbouring communities.
Together, these developments are weaving the threads of a new beginning for Lebialem. While challenges remain and the scars of the past years are still visible, the atmosphere in Menji today carries a renewed sense of possibility. Markets are slowly filling, businesses are reopening, and families are returning to rebuild their lives.
