Visionary Reports

In a show of corporate civic responsibility, the Cameroonian Cardboard and School and Office Supplies Company (SOCARTO) has partnered with the Douala City Council to support the “One Shopkeeper, One Broom, One Trash Can” initiative. The program is a key part of the larger Douala Clean City program.On Friday, September 5, 2025, SOCARTO donated a significant amount of cleaning equipment, including wheelbarrows, brooms, and shovels, to bolster the city’s efforts to improve urban cleanliness.According to Samuel Njanga Kondo Ngande, SOCARTO’s General Director, the donation reflects the company’s commitment to being an active partner in the city’s health campaign. “Douala is our city, and cleanliness must prevail,” he stated. “It is a citizen’s duty. We wanted to take the plunge and catch up a bit because we should have done this as soon as the campaign was launched.”

He emphasized that SOCARTO wants to be a recognized partner to the city council, and this donation is a demonstration of their commitment to assisting with the crucial mission of keeping the city clean.Furthermore,Arlette Alemoka, Director of the Municipal Police, expressed gratitude on behalf of the City Mayor. “Thank you, Mr. Kondo, for this gift,” she said. “This gift is a double gift. We thank you for both the people of Douala and for us. Thanks to this gift, we will give strength to the project.”Alemoka further explained that the “One Shopkeeper, One Broom, One Trash Can” initiative is designed to involve shopkeepers and other road users in the cleanliness of their own spaces. The goal is to make everyone feel that Douala belongs to them and that they should participate in making the city more attractive.Meanwhile,the City Mayor, Dr. Roger Mbassa Ndine is always very receptive to such acts of civic responsibility. He encourages all businesses to follow SOCARTO’s lead and become more involved in preserving the local environment. After all, the city of Douala is for everyone.

By Henry Wana