The Divisional officer, DO, for Mbonge, Simon Sombe, has declared that the Bangwas and the Bakundus in Kombone Mission, Mbonge Subdivision, Meme, Southwest Region, are condemned to live together and in peace.

Sombe made the declaration on April 17 to The Post on the situation in Kombone Village after the February 12 conflict pitting Bakundu indigenes and settlers, mostly Bangwas from Lebialem Division. According to the administrator, a lasting solution to the misunderstanding is being finalised but community interest can never be sacrificed for individual interest over land matters.

The disputed area habours a primary school while on another portion, Government intends to construct a nursery school for the community. He disclosed that findings have been made right at the level of the national archives in Buea to ensure that any decision arrived at satisfies both parties in order to promote national integration despite misunderstanding over land.

“Among the over 32 persons laying claim to the disputed land, only a certain John Munya happens to have a document,” said the DO. “Though the Bangwa’s are laying claim of having bought the land for 70 pounds from Calbury and Fry, there is no such evidence in the national archives. To Sombe, the regular receipts at the level of the Kombone Traditional Council and the seasonal crops planted on the piece of land shows that the land was a reserve.

The only cacao farm found around the area, the DO went on, is reported to have been planted by the brother to Vincent Mundame, the Quarterhead of Kombone at the time. Besides, the human rights activists cum DO explained that Kombone Mission was an outskirt of Kombone Town that was given to a non-native named Vincent Mundame. Mundame became the Quarter Head of Kombone, which later on became Kombone Mission after it was made chiefdom, according to the 1968 official gazette.

Sombe recounted that it was Mundame who carved out the disputed area of land for future development purposes while he served as Quarter Head. He got married to a Bakundu woman but was dethroned in favour of a Bakundu native, Tom Matuba, to be made the pioneer chief; the DO further remarked. The DO deduced that, the Bakundu saw in Mundame’s attitude of inviting his brothers from the grass field a threat to their existence.

Kombone, the DO revealed, remains an isolated case in Mbonge Subdivision because the situation is haphazard. This he explained is partly due to the phenomenon of giving out land in return for royalties, mostly by the natives. However, Sombe maintained that, going by the Land Ordinance of August 5, 1974, no body can claim ownership of land without having a land certificate. He said the state can prosecute such persons for illegal sale of its land.

Counting on his experience in land matters, DO Sombe, maintained that most of the twisted cases will be straightened given that he remains a born-again administrator who fears God. Besides, his wealth of experience in handling land issues, the administrator expressed hope that the current reforms on land laws in Cameroon will help to solve land matters.