Misaje: Mbororos Decry Political Marginalization

(NewsWatch Cameroon)-At the time marginalized ethnic groups like the Mbororos are reportedly making a surge in politics in the Northwest region, those in Misaje sub division of the Donga Mantung Division in the same region have decried marginalization.

According to Mallam Umarou Maluku the National Treasurer of the Muslim Union of Misaje Subdivision (MUMISD), they are not represented on the political map of the subdivision. “Where is the place of the Muslims in the politics of Misaje subdivision - no mayor, no deputy, no party top executive?”

Through a release, the exchequer of MUMISD is calling on the Muslim community of the subdivision to raise their voices as one and fight for what is theirs. “From all indications, the Muslim community has been relegated to the background and condemned to sit at meetings and cheer others as they take decisions that affect everybody without any consultation with the beneficiary community”.

A greater part of the population of the subdivision is made up of Muslims. The previous council executive of Misaje had a Muslim representative as deputy mayor though no Muslim occupied a top position within the CPDM party in the section (Donga Mantung IV-Misaje).

Meantime, a total of 48 Mbororo councilors were elected into some councils in the Northwest region at the September 30, 2013 municipal elections as compared to 26 in 2007 - an overall increase of 84.6%.

According to some, this increase should be attributed to a number of factors particularly increased sensitization on minority, indigenous, civil and political rights by community activists, NGOs and other stakeholders.

Though those in Misaje are decrying the fact that they are not represented in the council executive, they however have councilors in the council. Mbororos are represented in 27 of the 34 councils in the Northwest. They do not have councilors in the following councils in which significant numbers live: Bamenda I & II, Furu-Awah, Benakuma, Ako, Widikum and Babessi.

From a gender standpoint, this indigenous group has witnessed an increase of 500% from 2007. Of the 48 Mbororo councilors elected during the September 30 elections in the Northwest region, five are females as opposed to just one in 2007. Yet, there is only one Mbororo Mayor out of the 360 in Cameroon.

By Ndi Eugene Ndi