“My name is Sylvie and I am a single mother of two. I am a businesswoman. I go to different villages in the Northwest Region,, buy foodstuff and sell it. Before the crisis became intense, I was making a lot of money. I built a house from money made from the business. The case is no longer the same. Imagine buying foodstuff from a bush market and after some minutes the road is blocked. 

The lockdown was not a new thing to me because we have had even worse ones compared to this but I’m not saying that it’s a good idea though. People like us who have to buy and sell to make a profit before eating will understand what a five days lockdown can do. Before the lockdown started people were still not sure about it until it started. I bought foodstuffs for commercial purposes and kept but some have perished already. These like tomatoes, watermelon, pear and plantain is over ripe. Is this not a true definition of suffering. Most of the stuff was consumed at home. How will I make the money I used to buy them. 

Even though we are used to this treatment, it still deal with us in different ways. Many businesses have crumbled in the North West region because of the crisis and the numerous lockdowns. We are used to gunshots but shooting stars used to be what children and youths will come out to watch on national days but people mistook them for gunshots and could not have a peaceful night.

Another thing attached to this lockdown is the fact that I have “Njangi” (local initiative group contribution for thrift and loans) to play this weekend. How will I do that. I am not the only one in this but other people will suffer same. How then do we eat and even have something to save. I don’t know who is supposed to do what, but if something is not done we will all die in this Bamenda”.