When the Fon of Bambui first visited the Bamenda III Council water project earlier this year, he was not simply touring one of the most successful municipal water schemes in the North West Region. He was searching for answers to a growing challenge back home.
That visit would eventually set in motion a collaboration that has now brought the first German engineer to Bambui to continue technical studies for the modernisation of the Bambui Water Authority (BAWA).
Why would the Mayor of Bamenda III Council invest time, energy and political capital in facilitating a project outside his municipality?. This is a question this reporter took interest in.
Mayor Fongu Cletus Tanwe offers a simple answer.
"This is not about politics. It is about humanity." It is about humanity
The Mayor explained that his decision was inspired by the determination shown by the Fon of Bambui and the genuine desire of the Bambui community to improve access to potable water.
According to him, the traditional ruler demonstrated exceptional commitment by personally following the progress of the Bamenda III water project, studying its development over the years and persistently seeking opportunities to establish contact with the German partners behind its success.
"The Fon showed remarkable commitment to improving water for his people. When someone is genuinely working for the welfare of his community, you have every reason to support that vision," the Mayor noted.
His intervention is particularly significant because Bambui falls under a different council area. Politically, there was little to gain from investing in a project beyond his municipality. Yet Mayor Fongu Cletus believes public service should not stop at administrative boundaries.
For more than a decade, Bamenda III Council has worked with German NGO Trinkwasser für Kamerun to build and continuously improve its municipal water scheme. What began as a local development project has gradually become a reference point for other communities seeking sustainable solutions to water shortages.
Fon of Bambui in Yellow at Bamenda III water plant
Earlier this year, the Fon of Bambui publicly acknowledged that his community had deliberately followed the Bamenda III model after being impressed by the project's technical sophistication and long-term sustainability.
During his visit, the traditional ruler described the council's water system as "a centre of learning" capable of inspiring similar initiatives across Cameroon.
That admiration eventually translated into action.
Following several exchanges between the Bamenda III Council, the Bambui traditional authorities and the German partners, engineer Melvin arrived in Bambui on Tuesday 14 July 2026 to continue feasibility studies that could pave the way for a comprehensive upgrade of the Bambui Water Authority.
The visit has generated excitement across the community, with traditional leaders, water authorities, youth representatives and residents describing it as the beginning of a new era.
Representing the Fon during the reception, Prince Tabefor recalled that discussions about linking Bambui to the German partners date back to 2015.
"When we visited Bamenda III and saw what had been achieved, the Mayor readily accepted to connect us with the German partners so that Bambui could also benefit," he said.
According to Mayor Fongu Cletus, the development demonstrates the power of cooperation between municipalities and communities facing similar development challenges.
He believes successful local initiatives should not remain isolated examples but should become models that inspire wider regional progress.
His philosophy mirrors remarks he made during the farewell ceremony of the German engineers at the end of the Bamenda III optimisation mission, where he argued that development projects should always place humanity at the centre.
"These partners do not know the people who drink the water, yet they continue to support this project because it is about improving lives," he said at the time.
"That is the spirit we must all embrace." he added
The Bambui initiative now stands as another example of that philosophy in practice.
As technical studies begin, hopes are growing that the partnership could significantly expand Bambui's water production capacity, improve water quality, modernise ageing infrastructure and provide a lasting solution to shortages affecting residents and the rapidly growing university community.
For Mayor Fongu Cletus Tanwe, the greatest reward will not be political recognition, but the sight of more families turning on a tap and finding clean water.
In a region where access to safe drinking water remains a daily struggle for many communities, the decision to share experience rather than guard it may ultimately prove to be one of the most enduring legacies of the Bamenda III water project.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web
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