Beggars in Yaounde have abandoned the streets following the adoption of a penal code on begging, which promises sanctions to those guilty of aggravated begging.

The article on begging stipulates that anyone who has a means of subsistence but begs to earn a living will be liable to a prison sentence of up to three years and a fine of up to FCFA 500.000.

In the same guise, people who use visually impaired persons to beg shall be charged with aggravated begging.

Following the adoption of this article, beggars seemed to have deserted the streets of Yaounde, for fear of the above mentioned sanctions.

Inhabitants of Yaounde have hailed the article saying it will help rid the streets of criminals who pose for people in distress.