Monday, March 30, 2015

At 30th Anniversary: CPDM Supporters In Nkambe Told Not To Let Council Go (Event in Pictures)

Acting CPDM section president welcomes the D.O for Nkambe Central


Acting CPDM section president welcoming the SDO for Donga Mantung

Observing a minute of silence in honour of soldiers, civilians killed by Boko Haram


A minutes of silence for soldiers, civilians  




Ngala Gerard faces the press after celebration

At 30th Anniversary: CPDM Supporters In Nkambe Told Not To Let Council Go

Nkambe, Cameroon—Militants, supporters and sympathisers of the ruling CPDM party in Nkambe have been urged to procure adherence party cards and recruit more militants for the party in order to consolidate the 2013 municipal election victory.
Cross section of CPDM militants at 30th annoversary in Nkambe

Ngala Gerard, interim CPDM section president for Donga Mantung I made the call on Tuesday March 24, 2015 at the Nkambe community hall while addressing militants of the party as they joined their comrades nationwide in celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the CPDM party.
The CPDM for the first time in about 18 years won the Nkambe council (in 2013), which has been under the control of the opposition.
According to Ngala Gerard, the 18 months achievements of the CPDM team at the council outweigh that which the opposition achieved in eighteen years. Thus, he called on president Biya’s party supporters to consolidate this victory.
“Support the party which is the only road to development”, Ngala Gerard told CPDM supporters as he enumerated some achievements of the CPDM run council of Nkambe.
The acting section president urged his comrades who have not yet bought their party adherence cards to do as soon as possible. This, he said is very important as the party will soon embark on the reorganization of its basic organs.
Ngala Gerard addressing CPDM militants
“Only militants with party adherence cards will be eligible to vote and be voted”, he stated.
Ngala Gerard condemned the barbaric acts of the Boko Haram terrorist group and advised especially youths of Nkambe to always be on guard and collaborate with the administration in case of any suspicious acts.
Celebrating under the theme, "CPDM, 30 years at the service of Cameroon, and still promoting peace, unity, democracy and progress", other successive speakers at the event like the WCPDM section president; Balery Felicia and the vice president of the YCPDM; Tangong Oliver all joined their voices to that of the section president in condemning the insurgence perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Harping on the need to consolidate CPDM victory, the mayor of the Nkambe council, Ngabir Paul Bantar reminded supporters of the party that taking over the council was a sign of hard work, but they need to work harder to keep it.
“It is easy to climb to the top, but to stay on top, you have to burn the mid night candle”, the mayor said.
The SDO for Donga Mantung, Ngone Ndodemessape Bernard who joined CPDM   militants in the anniversary said he was happy with the theme of the celebration.
“There is no development without peace, and for peace to reign there must be unity. To be united everyone must have the opportunity to express his or her self; that its democracy”, the SDO said adding that it was because of the importance of the theme that he and his collaborators were happy to join celebrations which according to him is 30years of success and development, “under our head of state, your party chairman”, he said.
In a motion of support to their national chairman and head of state, the CPDM militants in Nkambe pledged their total support to him (Biya) and the Cameroon armed forces in the ongoing war against Boko Haram. They also promised to act as vigilantes against the sect.
Though the community hall was full to capacity, the fanfare that usually characterizes such a political celebration was not felt.
“We cannot be dancing and singing when Boko Haram is causing havoc to our brothers and sisters in the Far North, the party decided to have a sober celebration with reflection on how to support the head of state, our national chairman and the defence forces in the war against Boko Haram”, Ngala Gerard told reporters at the end of the celebration.
By Ndi Eugene Ndi in Nkambe




Fight Against Boko Haram: Senate, Senators Promise FCFA 100M Support To Military

Yaounde, Cameroon—The president of the senate has disclosed that within the context of the ongoing national solidarity with the Cameroon defence forces fighting the Boko Haram terrorist group, senators and the senate (upper house of parliament), have put the sum of FCFA 100Million at the disposal of the forces at the front.
Marcel Niat Njifenji

Though the president did not state when and how the will be handed to the gallantry forces, he explained that senators, irrespective of their political leanings espoused the initiative and accepted to voluntarily and collectively contribute FCFA 50Million while the house will contribute FCFA 50 Million.
The CPDM senator from the West region Marcel Niat Njifenji, was speaking in Yaounde on Tuesday March 17, 2015 following his reelection as president of the upper house of parliament; the senate. Niat got 83 of the 97 valid vote cast, against 14 null votes; corresponding to the 14 opposition SDF representatives of the house.
The first vice president of the house, Senator Aboubakary Abdoulaye, also Lamido of Rey Bouba in the North region was also reelected through a uninominal ballot in which the score was same like that of the president.
Just like the president and first vice, the other fifteen members of the permanent bureau were also maintained except for Senator Otte Andrew Mofa, CPDM senator from the Southwest region who replaced the late Senator Fontem Njifua as Questor.
Though critics say Senator Niat was already aware of his victory following his investiture by the party in a meeting that preceded the election, he (Niat) described his reelection as a great honour.  “For me, this is a great honour and an enormous privilege”, he said.
While thanking the national chairman of the CPDM and president of the republic, Paul Biya for his investiture, Senator Niat was reassuring that like in the past, “I would work by his side with commitment, loyalty and with the fear of God, for the triumph of the general interest and the supreme interest of the nation”, he promised.
Senator Niat was full of gratitude to his colleagues, acknowledging that they have always been by him during their early years of existence.
“What has been accomplished through your support is really worth commending. However, what is left to be done requires that we step up our efforts even more”, Senator Niat urged his colleagues.
The senate president reassured his colleagues that he has already committed himself. “I commit myself to do the utmost to ensure that our house plays its role, only its role, and its entire role at the centre of nation’s legal and institutional arsenal”, he said.
According to Senator Wanlo John from the Northwest region, the reelection of the bureau is a sign of solidarity and continuity.
 “We cannot change a winning team, the senate is a young legislative institution and we started with Senator Niat as president. Our party endorsed him again, we have to support him and his entire bureau so that we can together continue working for the good of all Cameroonians that we represent at the senate”, Wanlo said.
By Ndi Eugene Ndi

I Have Never, Will Never Betray Biya’s Confidence In Me—Cavaye

Yaounde, Cameroon—The speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril has vowed never to betray the CPDM national chairman, President Biya’s confidence of investing him for the post of speaker of the house for the past twenty-three (23) years.
Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril

“I will try to merit this confidence. Never in the past did I betray this confidence. I will never betray it,” Hon Cavaye declared at the national assembly in Yaounde last Tuesday 17 March 2015 following his reelection as speaker of the National Assembly for the 2015 legislative year.
Though Hon Cavaye was the lone candidate for the post of speaker, the CPDM Member of Parliament for Mayo-Sava in the Far North region obtained 149 of the 172 vote cast as against some 23 null votes-which most observers attribute to some opposition political party representatives of the house.
Hon Cavaye had earlier been invested for the post in a meeting of the CPDM parliamentary group of the National Assembly. They met at their party headquarters about five hours to the elective plenary.
Reacting to the election process, Hon Cavaye, in his victory speech described the abstentions as a sign of democracy. “Once more, democracy was expressed in the hemicycle”, the speaker noted. He expressed thanks to all his peers, be they does who voted in his favour or not.
Hon Cavaye congratulated the oldest member of the house and president of the provisional bureau, Hon Enow Tanjong for successfully chairing the elective plenary.
The mandate of the provisional bureau made up of the oldest member and two youngest members of the house came to an end with the election of the speaker.
Under the supervision of the speaker, the house proceeded with the election of the senior vice president. Incumbent Hon Hilarion Etong from Nanga Eboko in the Centre region retained his position, scoring the same votes like the speaker.
The five (5) Vice Presidents, four (4) Questors and twelve (12) Secretaries who were proposed on a consensus list by political parties represented in the National Assembly were elected as presented by the CPDM parliamentary group leader, Hon Jean Bernard Ndongo Essomba. They were all incumbents.
The speaker, Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril has been MP for over 43 years; he is now serving the 24th year as speaker of the National Assembly.
By Ndi Eugene Ndi

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Fru Ndi visits, donates to Boko Haram wounded soldiers

Yaounde,Cameroon—The chairman of the foremost opposition party, the Social Democratic Front, SDF, Ni John Fru Ndi, has visited some Cameroonian and Chadian soldiers at the Yaounde military hospital who are recovering from injuries inflicted on them by the Boko Haram terrorist.
Besides words of comfort, the lefty politician who was accompanied by some SDF senators and members of the national assembly, handed a consignment of food items comprising of two live bulls, bags of rice, salt and vegetable oil to the wounded soldier through the hospital authorities.
Speaking during the donation ceremony at the military garrison in Yaounde on Thursday 19 March 2015, the SDF chieftain explained that on the sidelines of the extraordinary summit of heads of state and government of the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa that took place in the country’s political capital last February, he paid a first visit to the soldiers.
“I saw some of them in very critical conditions, but I was happy that they were going to be treated here”, Fru Ndi said.
Touched, the SDF chairman said he took the matter to the SDF group leaders at both the senate and the national assembly. The SDF legislators, Fru Ndi revealed accepted to donate food stuff, “I had to go to my ranch to select the biggest bulls I can afford to add”, Fru Ndi said.
Fru Ndi who said has chosen not to follow the pattern of those organizing street demonstrations and cash donations to soldiers at the front warned that Cameroonians should not take the fight against the terrorist group as a trade.
“The gift I am giving to the soldiers today is from my heart. To join the army and defend the country is an honour, so we should support them with honour”, Fru Ndi reiterated.
About the soldiers at the war front, Fru Ndi he had dispatched the first vice chairman of the party to the Far North already. “I might go with a delegation to the north”, he stated.
Receiving the gifts on behalf of the Minister Delegate at the presidency in charge of Defence, the Secretary of state in the Ministry of Defence in charge of Ex-service men and war victims, Koumpa Issa said after the January 8 by president Biya, the national and international community has been responding to the war against Boko Haram in diverse forms.
He praised the SDF initiative promising that the donation which he immediately handed to the director of the military hospital will be managed judiciously.
“The soldiers do not only need medical care, they also need food and affection. The SDF initiative will hasten their recovery”, Koumpa Issa said.
The director of the military hospital, Dr. Colonel Abeng Mbozoo Emile, took Fru Ndi and his delegation on a guided tour of the various departments of the hospital where the gallantry soldiers are convalescing.
After digesting the comforting words of  the SDF chieftain, some of the soldiers revealed that they are ready to go back to the warfront after their treatment.
By Ndi Eugene Ndi in Yaounde


Friday, March 20, 2015

MPs Schooled On EPA Implementation In Cameroon

Yaounde, Cameroon—Some members of parliament have been briefed on the challenges, stakes, constrain and advantages of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) for trade and development signed between Cameroon and the European Union (EU). The peoples’ representatives were familiarizing themselves with the content and tenets of the trade and development partnership agreement in a one day information workshop at the National Assembly last Thursday 19 March 2015.
Workshop participants pose with EU, NA and Gov't officials

Organized by the parliamentary network for the promotion of investments and partnership agreements, known in its French acronym as REPICOP, was aimed at informing MPs on the stakes, challenges, constrains and opportunities of partnership agreements in general and the implementation of the EPA in particular.
Cameroon and the EU signed the EPA in 2009; providing for a free access to the EU market for exports (mostly raw materials), originating from Cameroon while Cameroon on her part had to open it markets to European exports for a transitional period of fifteen (15) years.
Parliament approved the agreement in June 2013, authorizing the president of the republic to ratify agreement. The EPA then entered into application in August 2014 following its ratification.
“Now that it is effective, it is part of the legal corpus of Cameroon. It is not more the debate on the opportunities of signing or not signing, we have to forge ahead, to see what can come out of this agreement for the benefit of the Cameroonian population”, Hon Banmi Emmanuel, president of REPICOP said.
The implementation phase of the agreement according to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) will span fifteen (15) years.
Gilbert Didier Edoa explained that “we have two years of preparation, that is from August 2014 to 2016 and thirteen (13) years of effective implementation which will start in August 2016”.
Cameroon is the European Union’s leading trade partner in Central Africa. The Ambassador, head of the European Union delegation to Cameroon, Franciose Collet said the delegation welcomes the initiative.
“We really welcome this initiative by the parliamentary network for the promotion of investments and partnerships. We are assisting by providing technical expertise and by supporting this initiative”, Collet said.
According to one of the participants, Hon Abe Michael, the workshop was timely. The MP for Ako/Misaje said as lawmakers who check government action, MPs have to abreast with the advantages and limitations of such agreements.  
The vice president of the national assembly, Hon Baoro Theophile who chaired the opening ceremony of the workshop urged the participants to come up with workable conditions under which parliamentarians will monitor the implementation of the EPA.
In addition to the members of parliament; MPs and Senators, other participants at the one day workshop included representatives of the European Union Delegation in Cameroon, the Ministry of Economy Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT), and the Cameroon Employers’ Union (GICAM).
By Ndi Eugene Ndi in Yaounde

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Senate Bureau: Who replaces Fon Njifua, Nkwain?

Yaounde, Cameroon—The 2015 legislative year has opened both at the lower and upper houses of parliament. The March session of parliament that opened in both houses last Thursday March 12, 2015 is traditionally devoted to the election of bureau members of the two legislative institutions for a one year mandate.
Late Senator Njifua

Section II of the standing orders of the senate states that the permanent bureau of the house is made up of 17 members; a president, one first vice president, four vice presidents, three questors and eight secretaries.
As the house prepares to elect a president and other members of the bureau, observers are already asking the question; who will replace Senator Fon Fontem Njifua?
Late senator Njifua who died last year was one of the Questors of the pioneer bureau of the house that was elected last June 2013 and reelected last March 2014. Although his replacement as senator can only be through by-elections, his replacement as Questor of the bureau has to be effected this March, given that it is the first elective session since the Questor died.
While critics say the election of the bureau will just be a mere formality with a possible reelection of the rest of the surviving 16 members, it is highly expected that another senator from the Southwest region will replace the late senator Fon Lucas Fontem Njifua as Questor at the bureau.
Ahead of the election, some names that are being muted around the CPDM party headquarters as possible successors of Fon Njifua include Daniel Matute, Chief Tabetando and Otte Andrew Mofa.
In the meantime, the house will also need to elect a new chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee to replace late Senator Bochong Francis Nkwain. Here also it is rumoured around the CPDM party headquarters that it could be Fon Doh of Bali or Wallang David of Wum.
But who eventually succeeds Njifua at the bureau and Nkwain as chair of the Foreign Affairs committee of the senate is still a matter of wait and see.
There are six political parties represented at the senate-CPDM, SDF, UNDP, ANDP, FNSC and MDR. Going by prorata, the bureau will still be CPDM dominated.
The Senate was created in 1996 after an amendment to the constitution created the upper chamber. The President of the Senate who is the second personality according to state protocol is also the constitutionally designated successor to the President of the Republic in case of a vacancy in the latter office.
By Ndi Eugene Ndi

Senate reaffirms support to fight against Boko Haram

Yaounde, Cameroon—The first ordinary session for the 2015 legislative year has kicked off at the senate-the upper house of parliament with an appeal to all Cameroonians to support the head of state, President Paul Biya in his drive towards emergence and his determination to stamp out the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Senators in session (photo credit; Cameroon Tribune)

The oldest member of the senate and president of the provisional bureau of the house, Senator Nfon Victor Mukete, 96 years old CPDM senator from the Southwest made the call in Yaounde on Thursday March 12, 2014 as he chaired the opening plenary of the 2015 legislative year.
According to Senator Nfon Mukete, “it is by working together that we shall stamp out terrorism, this cankerworm which is today a scourge in Africa and other parts of the world”.
Senator Nfon Mukete expressed delight for the holding in Yaounde of the extraordinary summit of the council for peace and security in Central Africa (COPAX), to discuss measures of combating the Boko Haram terrorist sect.
“Our parliament’s involvement in such a sub regional event clearly shows the will of Cameroonians to work as one to maintain peace and security in our country”, he said.
Like at the lower house, the first parliamentary session at the senate; the upper house of parliament will be devoted essentially to the election of the president as well as members of the bureau of the senate. In this regard, the president of the provisional bureau called on his peers to ensure that the elections are conducted in a serene and convivial atmosphere.
“I pray that we shall show proof of a high sense of responsibility and high patriotism”, Senator Mukete said.
The oldest member of the senate was flanked by two youngest members of the house; 40 years old MarlyseAboui, ANDP senator of the East region and Amadou Tidjani, 40 years old SDF senator from the Adamawa region.

Minister Fame Ndongo awaited!

The fight against the Boko Haram terrorist group according to senator Jean Tsomelou, SDF group leader at the senate, will not disturb the in-house business of the legislative institution.
Though mainly dedicated to the election of the president and bureau members, senators will within their thirty (30) days stay in session also examine projects and proposals of laws filed respectively by the government and parliament as well as ask questions to members of government during question & answer plenary sessions.
The SDF senatorial group leader revealed that corrupt government officials will not have it easy before senators this session.
Amongst the members of government awaited at the senate, Jean Tsomelou disclosed, is Jacques Fame Ndongo, Minister of Higher Education who will have to come and explain the controversial admission into the diplomacy section of the International relations Institute, IRIC.

Boko Haram is looking for green gold—Senator Wanlo John

The oldest member’s speech was focused on two main things; the war against Boko Haram and election of the president and bureau member of the senate.The senate is a state institution, senators are representing the people and so we have to join the head of state in the war. Senators can contribute through sensitization of the citizens especially our youths on the evil intensions of the terrorist group. I recently visited some European countries and a friend told me there is green gold in Africa. We cannot allow the sect to penetrate and get rid of our green gold; all Cameroonians have to firmly support the head of state, supreme commander of the armed forces in this fight. Our young people have to denounce any suspected cases, give any useful information to our military, and collaborate so that we can conquer the terrorist group. If you give the right information to the people, you save them. We are looking forward for an emerging Cameroon in 2035, we have to do everything to bar the way for Boko Haram as it is the determination of our head of state, President Paul Biya.
By Ndi Eugene Ndi

MP calls Boko Haram Leader Devil’s incarnate

Yaounde, Cameroon—Members of the national assembly have observed a minute of silence for the gallantry soldiers and civilians who have lost their lives in the ongoing war against the terrorist group, Boko Haram. This was one of the high points of the opening of the 2015 legislative year at the national assembly in Yaounde on Thursday March 12, 2015.
Cavaye has been house speaker for 23yrs

The oldest member of the national assembly and president of the provisional bureau of the house, Hon Enow Tanjong; CPDM MP for Manyu in the Southwest region who chaired the opening plenary hailed the determination of the defense forces at the front who he said are registering victories despite field difficulties.
Opening within a context of sorrow caused by the terrorist group, Hon Enow Tanjong said that information from the front reveals that panic has gripped the terrorist group; “that fears neither God nor man”.
“The panic shows the imminent fall of the group and its leader; who is a real incarnation of the devil”, Hon Enow Tanjong said while calling on all Cameroonians to unite behind the defenses forces in the war against the sect.
The oldest member of the national assembly also praised the efforts and actions of the head of state, commander-in-chief of the armed forces towards eradicating the sect likewise gestures to the population of the Northern regions.
The March session of parliament is essentially dedicated to the election of a permanent bureau to pilot the affairs of the national assembly for the next twelve (12) months.
Public affairs analysts say the election of the permanent bureau of the house is a mere formality as speculations are rife that Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibrill who has been speaker of the house for the past twenty-three (23) years would still be reelected.
Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibrill has been benefitting from the overwhelming CPDM majority despite opposition protest during the election of bureau members.
According to Hon Joseph Banadzem, SDF parliamentary group leader who has often led protest against Hon Cavaye’s candidature, the CPDM majority at the assembly is fake.
“The electoral commission is not independent, it favoured most of them. They use state apparatus to have what they don’t deserve; reason why they have the majority. We must belong to the bureau according to the text, but the number of places in the bureau is determined by prorata, reason why we asked for one more place, but it was not given”.
Though the mandate of the provisional bureau will come to an end when a permanent bureau of the house would have been elected in the days ahead, Hon Enow Tanjong said it feels good being part time speaker by virtue of age.
By Ndi Eugene Ndi

Female agro-industrial workers urged to join, take leadership in syndicates

Yaounde, Cameroon—The Cameroon Labour Code gives female workers some special rights such as paid maternity leave, posting to marital residence etc by their employers.
But most female workers of agro-industrial companies in Cameroon complain that they do not usually benefit from their due rights by their employers.
One of the workers who spoke to this reporter on grounds of anonymity said they work in very precarious conditions.
“We do not have individual equipment like boots, gloves, rain coats…, we are supposed to start work at 6am and stop at 2pm, but sometimes we leave the plantation at 8pm, the task is enormous and over time is not paid for”, she said.
Like the workers, rights activist say the treatment of female workers within the agro-industrial companies does not always take into account national and international laws. This, some activists say is influenced by the low representation of women in trade union bodies of the agricultural sector, at both local and national levels—responsible for defending their interests with employers.
It is against this growing phenomenon that the Centre for Environment and Development, CED, on the eve of the celebration of the International Women's Day which is celebrated on March 8 every year, organized a workshop under the theme, "working conditions of female workers in agro industries in Cameroon ".
“This workshop aims to share the experience of labor of the workers, and encourage more involvement of women in decision-making bodies within trade union structures”, Mireille Tchiako, communication officer of CED, said.
 She explained that CED expects that at the end of the workshop, participants would have reinforced their knowledge on the scale of violations of their rights as female workers of agro industrial companies, the role of trade unions and propose solutions to remedy the situation.
One of the resource persons, Michel Dongmo, who works with rubber producing giant, HEVECAM and president of ‘Union de Syndicat Libre du Cameroun’, (USLC), said most women consider belonging to syndicates as opposing hierarchy.
Harping on the low representation of women in syndicates, the president of USLC said several factors account for the low representation amongst which are the fear of risk taking, conflict with family responsibilities amongst other. Though affirming that belonging to a syndicate is not a guarantee that workers’ plight will be solved, he intimated that “the syndicate is not being heard to the fullest, but unity is strength, join syndicates; all syndicates have the same objectives”.
Mr Dongmo revealed that as of December 2013, only 18 per cent of female workers of the agro industrial sector were militants of syndicates with a meager 2.88 per cent as syndicate leaders. The low representation of female workers in the agro-industrial sector according to the trade unionist “is because of the much energy required in our work. Take CDC for example, you have to carry 58 bunches of banana in order to mark your 8 hours. And you know women are generally weak”.
Madam Benz Enow, Labour Inspector at the regional delegation of labour and social security for the centre said, adhering to a trade union is not synonymous to having solutions to all workers’ problem. But she, advised female agro industrial workers to always belong to trade unions. She advised that a worker whose rights are not respected by his/her employer should immediately contact the trade union and if nothing is done, contact the labour office. “But be very sure you are faultless when filing a complaint to the labour office. Our aim is not to close the enterprises, else we will create bigger problem; that of unemployment. We only ensure mutual understanding between employers and employees”, she warned.
By Ndi Eugene Ndi

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Cyber Criminals Hack Presidential Website

Yaounde, Cameroon—A  fabricated photo on the website of the presidency showing the head of state, President Paul Biya (currently on vacation in Europe) bowing before the caskets of some gallantry soldiers killed by militants of the terrorist group, Boko Haram has been attributed to cyber criminals.
Biya honouring soldiers from Europe?

On March 6, 2015, the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o chaired a ceremony to pay homage to some brave soldiers of the Cameroon armed forces who were killed in the battle field by Boko Haram.
On behalf of the president of the republic, the Defense Minister decorated the soldiers posthumously with different titles, but on the website of the presidency days after, the fabricated photo appeared.
The photo created so much controversy with local newspapers, social media users and politicians chastising the head of state and the regime.
In a press release on March 11, the Minister of communication and government’s spokes person claimed the presidential website was under cyber attack.  He asserted that the photograph was posted by a hacker who maliciously penetrated the presidency website with the aim of tarnishing the embattled image of the head of state and the armed forces.
The Minister did not say who the malicious hacker is, but refused allegations that some personnel of the presidency were accomplices in the photo scandal.
“We are conscious of the gravity of such a picture whereas the head of state is in Europe. The photo was intentionally modified by a malicious hacker. It is impossible that it is done by someone from inside because everybody knows that president Biya is not around”, the Minister said in the release.
“Even if president Biya was out of the country, he had to flow back and pay homage to these soldiers who died defending the nation”, Hon Joseph Banadzem, SDF parliamentary group leader at the national assembly said.
By Ndi Eugene Ndi

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Rights Reporting: Two Cameroonians Amongst World Champions

Two female Cameroonian journalists, Comfort Mussa of Global Press Journal & Radio France International (RFI English), and Chi Yvonne Leina of Equinoxe television & World Pulse are amongst some 15 journalists worldwide who have been nominated, selected by an organization; Women Deliver, for championing the health and rights of girls and women through their reporting.
Comfort Mussa

The list of the nominees which according to Women Deliver is meant to celebrate the International Women’s Day was made public on March 7, 2015.
The 15 nominees according to Women Deliver, are being honoured for their consistent and game-changing coverage of maternal, sexual and reproductive health and rights issues at global and national levels.
The 15 nominees are women and men from 12 countries across Africa, Asia and North and South America.
They have used their voices and media platforms to draw attention to issues like female genital mutilation in Liberia, Cameroon and Tanzania; women’s rights abuses in India and Pakistan; teenage pregnancy in Uganda; contraceptive access in the Philippines and Senegal; and sexual exploitation around the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
“Our honourees aren’t just reporting from behind a desk-they are on the front lines and their coverage saves lives. They go far beyond what many would do, even putting their own lives in harm’s way, because women’s stories matter to all of us”, says Women Deliver CEO, Katja Iversen.
“This is no easy feat, which is why we are proud to recognize them today. Their passion for and dedication to improving girls’ and women’s lives is evident in every article they write and every story they tell”, Mr. Katja adds.
The 15 were selected from a pool of more than 100 nominations submitted by Women Deliver’s partners. An internal review board evaluated the candidates based on their dedication to girls’ and women’s health and rights, the quality and consistency of their reporting on the issues and the impact of their work in the newsroom and beyond.
Chi Yvonne Leina
One of the Cameroonian honourees, Comfort Mussa is a radio host, blogger and multi-award winning journalist with a keen eye for stories that exposes social injustice. She uses her voice to make others’ voice louder.
She hosts a weekly radio broadcast, 100% Jeune Live, where she leads young people in open and vibrant conversations about sexual and reproductive health.
As reporter for the Global Press Journal, Comfort writes about many sensitive topics including the risk of sexual harassment for mentally disabled women in Cameroon and the ripple effect of anti-child labour laws on middle class women.
Comfort also founded SisterSpeak237, a blog where girls and women can openly discuss taboo topics, such as sexual harassment on public transportation.
Meanwhile, Chi Yvonne Leina breaks the silence around harmful cultural practices and sexual violence. In 2011, Leina uncovered the truth about breast ironing in Cameroon.
Her reporting generated local and international attention and helped encourage the Cameroonian government to partner with her Gender Danger campaign to end the harmful practice.
See more here

Orphanage exhibits arts, crafts works of pensioners

Yaounde, Cameroon—The House of Hope Orphanage otherwise known as a ‘place called home’ located in Nyen-Mbo, Momo division of the Northwest region has exhibited the arts and crafts works of its pensioners to the public. The orphanage organized a charity social evening at the Solomon Tandeng Muna Foundation in Yaounde on Wednesday March 4, 2015.
The founder of the orphanage, Madam Ayaba Malvis Kamah said her childhood life and the plight of orphans in Cameroon motivated her to create the orphanage.
“My childhood was very difficult, though I had both parents, I lived like an orphan. Life was so difficult and hard for me, in fact I was like a refugee in my own father’s house. I don’t want other children to feel like that” she said.
There are thousands of children in Cameroon who are not receiving the love and care they need and according to Madam Ayaba, the orphanage is dedicated to assisting as many as possible to grow into healthy, stable, mature and spiritual adults.
The social evening was an avenue to call on potential donors to come to the aid of the orphans whose needs are enormous, “they need teachers, tables, shelter, clothing, medical care…I need to give them best education, what I did not have as a child. But my means are limited, that is why we are using this social evening to call on good will donors to come and support the orphanage”. Madam Ayaba said.
Pensioners of the orphanage during the charity social evening exhibited arts and crafts works while the orphanage’s founder presented its programs and ongoing projects to invitees.
Founded in January 2012, the House of Hope Orphanage according to its founder counts 26 pensioners with two in secondary school.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Asonganyi explains why he boycotted Feb. 28 patriotic March

Thousands march in support of soldiers fighting Boko Haram
Yaounde,Cameroon--The cell is the smallest unit of life. Human beings and other living organisms are a collection of cells. As a Biochemist, I operate in an academic domain that studies the processes that keep a cell, and eventually the organism alive. We have since reached the conclusion that all processes in the cell are interlinked, and form a life-sustaining network, every link of which is virtually as important as the other.
This is the same with the life-world in which humans live in society: every human activity is interlinked and forms a life-sustaining network, every link of which is important to the life-form. Successful politics benefits the journalist, just as successful journalism benefits politics. And you can continue the linkages. This is why I do not share the view of those who think that journalists should keep their pens, to the exclusion of marching shoes.
Further, France is a pluralistic society, with political opinions spanning the extreme left to the extreme right. There are people in France who hate Africans, Jews, Moslems, Christians, Arabs, Immigrants, you name them. These do not represent the main current of opinion in France. They strengthen pluralism in France not diminish it. In the same way, there is no reason to think that the shouting of anti-French slogans by individuals during a protest march can represent the main current of opinion in Cameroon. Therefore I do not share the opinion of those who think that France will be scandalized by the anti-French shouts from some participants at the February 28 March. The shouts do not affect our friendship with France, just as they do not discredit protest marches as a form of political expression.
Since the 1962 repressive Ordinance of Ahidjo, the state has constantly encroached on the rights and liberties of society, especially its right to express itself through public association and processions. The ordinance lasted until 1990 when what were described as “liberty” laws replaced it. Unfortunately, the laws turned out to be not too different from the ordinance because they too enforced the overriding dominance of the administration over the judiciary on issues of rights and freedoms.
As expected, the “liberty” laws have worked to the advantage of the regime. Freedom of association (Law No. 90/053) and freedom to hold public meetings and processions (Law No. 90/055) are tightly controlled by the administration for what they claim is the “preservation of public order.” Indeed, since the laws came into force, hundreds, if not thousands of opposition meetings and processions have been banned by administrative authorities. As recently as February 24, 2015, a public march declared by SDF Women of Yaounde IV administrative unit to protest against recurrent power cuts and water shortages was banned because the administrative official used his whim to impute improper motive and considered the march “a potential threat to public order”!
In spite of this repeated proscription of public marches and processions as an avenue for political expression, a group of journalists decided to organize what they described as a “huge patriotic march” on February 28 in solidarity with our affected compatriots and the Cameroon army that is fighting against Boko Haram. For curious reasons, the organizers of the march scheduled it on February 28, a day on which in 2008, the CPDM regime turned a peaceful protest march against price hikes and the intention to modify the constitution to institute a life-presidency, into a violent confrontation that left several youths dead, maimed or arrested, molested and locked up. Further, the organizers decreed the uniformity of dress, slogans and gadgets for participants – like for the confiscated May 20 marches by the regime – thus tightly controlling the citizens’ manner of expression their patriotism and support during the march. In addition, because of our Cameroon experience, fears were expressed that some of the organizers were disguising their self-interest by dressing up arguments in the cloak of patriotism or concern for the public good.
As a person who has suffered repeated refusals of public officials to use protest marches for the expression of my political views, and who understands the universal declaration that “everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association” and the AU’s declaration that “The exercise of this right shall be subject only to necessary restrictions provided for by law, in particular those enacted in the interest of national security, the safety, health, ethics and rights and freedoms of others,” I chose to express my patriotism and support for our soldiers and our affected compatriots by boycotting the march.
Many Cameroonians usually presuppose the existence of a democratic culture in our society, and so easily turn a blind eye to the fact that expression of patriotism through public manifestation is not supposed to be selective. The organizers of the “huge patriotic march” failed to realize that the type of public march that they organized is only relevant in a society that is not habituated to freedom if it furthers the struggle for the advent of the tradition of freedom, and the associative relations of a liberal political culture.
In a society where the state has proscribed public manifestations as an avenue for political expression, the attempt of the journalists to re-enact the Paris democratic march in our non-democratic environment, was a clumsy attempt to play into the hands of a state that regularly blocks the use of such expression. The Paris March may have been in support of Charlie, but it was a bold statement for freedom of expression. The February 28 March has not left the impression that beyond support for our soldiers and our affected compatriots, it was also a statement for the freedom of the public space in our society in which citizens express themselves through all democratic avenues open to them. After all, Boko Haram is about the refusal of an essential freedom – the right to education. We need a culture of democracy that allows citizens to express themselves openly and collectively or silently and individually, according to their likes and dislikes, not according to the likes and dislikes of agents of a corrupt and repressive state.
Public manifestations like the February 28 March are an expression of solidarity which is bred by common values, goals and identities. Such solidarity among citizens occurs only when they feel themselves part of a collective project. Solidarity can exist only among individuals who are equal in their individuality, able to take responsibility for themselves and define themselves as part of a public debate. Solidarity develops among people who seek happiness and the rules for its guarantee. The Cameroon state does not yet tolerate the existence of the space in which individuals whose autonomy depends on that of all others could coexist, united above and beyond the differences of interests that can neither be suppressed nor ignored.
Public marches are a form of political expression that is supposed to be protected by the state. The declarations of the police and gendarme chiefs that they would provide appropriate protection for the February 28 March are commendable, and are clear evidence that the mantra of administrative officials that marches will result in “disturbance of public order” is a pretext used by the state to muzzle political expression.
"This is why I patriotically boycotted"
Patriotism is a sacred obligation of citizens; and solidarity is a requirement in a society that seeks development, prosperity and happiness for all its citizens. Thousands of citizens expressed their patriotism and solidarity by participating in the February 28 March. Millions of others chose to do so differently.
My participation in the rhetoric and passions of the march of February 28 would have been for me a statement that public marches are a form of political expression in Cameroon, which is not yet the case! My participation would have diminished my support for the equally valiant youths whose own March in February 2008 was violently repressed by our undemocratic state.
This is why I patriotically boycotted the February 28 March, even if I firmly support our valiant soldiers that are fighting the evil force called Boko Haram. It is why I patriotically boycotted the march although I share in the sufferings and loses foisted on our compatriots of the war zones by the monsters called Boko Haram.
By Tazoacha Asonganyi Yaounde.

No deaths in Yaounde High school stampede—Health, Education Ministers say

Yaounde, Cameroon—Over 73 students of Government High School Nkoabang in Yaounde are receiving treatment in some hospitals in the capital after sustaining injuries in a stampede at the school gate on Tuesday March 3, 2015.
Elements of the Fire Fighting unit rushed to the scene, ferried victims

A stampede was triggered after  about 2.000 students,  denied access to the campus by school authorities for not having some textbooks, according to official sources, tried to force their way in when the gate was opened for a school official who wanted to leave campus.
The injured students were immediately rushed to some private hospitals and others to the Yaounde Central Hospital where they are currently receiving treatment.
Five parents who rushed to the scene reportedly collapsed and were also rushed to the hospital.
The Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda and Secondary Education minister, Louis Bapes Bapes dispelled claims that some of the students had died when they visited some of the victims at the Yaounde Central hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
“I can assure you no student died”, Minister Louis Bapes Bapes told reporters after their visit to the hospital. He insisted that “if I am lying, I think the doctors will not be my accomplices”
Classes have resumed in the school, under tight security though.
By Ndi Eugene Ndi in Yaounde