Mbengwi Girl Sweeps off The Guardian Post's Metro Reporter

Mbengwi Girl Sweeps off The Guardian Post's Metro Reporter

Mua Patrick, Yaoundé city reporter for the lone English daily newspaper, The Guardian Post was recently swept off his feet by a Mbengwi damsel, Bah Peggy Indah. After years of courting and wooing with immeasurable determination, the self confident Peggy finally answered in the affirmative after she was popped the question, will you marry me?

Paddy & Peggy

Last Friday March 15 2019, the bride's Ntamulung residence played host to a plethora of media men and women, administrative authorities from the groom's sub division, relatives and friends. The simple but much talked about wedding was animated by a specially invited traditional dance group from Weh village plus the jittering fingers of Nji Ignatius of Eden Newspaper on his guitar and soft voice on the mic, it was a perfect blend that perfected the aesthetics of the news making wedding.

Traditional dance group

Emceed by Bakah Derick, one of the finest in the profession, the ambiance  set many tongues wagging with a common observation, "What a wedding?" Let it be recalled that journalists rarely make a public show of their weddings reason why when one such opportunity comes up, it's often a blast.

Colleagues

Coincidentally, it was a day the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ N.W chapter also had to hold its usual monthly meeting. Thus the visiting journalists from other towns simply had to make a triumphant entry into the meeting hall to commune with colleagues.

As of now, expections are high to attend another such wedding but no one can forecast who will take the challenge.

N.W Regional League Kicks Off, SIMAF FC Mbengwi Grabs 3 Points

N.W Regional League Kicks Off, SIMAF F.C Mbengwi Grabs 3 Points

The 2019 regional league in the North West has been successfully launched. This was last Saturday, March 16 on the CCM school field, Bamendankwe. Witnessed by hundreds of spectators, the opening encounter pitted Rangers FC of Bafut versus SIMAF FC of Mbengwi. After observing a minute of silence in memory of Mr. Thumta Joseph popularly known as Pa Joe, a renowned football promoter in the region who recently passed on, the official kick off shot was then executed by the FECAFOOT regional president, Mr. Mbigha Felix.

FECAFOOT N.W President, Mbigha Felix handing over special gift (football) to team captain of Rangers F.C

After assurance from his assistants that all is set, the central referee, Akumbom Jason will then glance at his wrist watch, lift up his head and the sound of a whistle is heard. Just like a diesel engine, action started timidly on the pitch but as time went on, the temperature kept increasing geometrically.

Just about 30 minutes into the first half, SIMAF FC will gain possession of the ball from the centre circle area, vividly execute the lessons learnt in school and just within seconds found the solution to breaking the already punctured defence of Rangers F.C and the goal keeper couldn't help stop the milk from spilling. The first goal has just been netted by Agil Hervé, 10 shirted player of SIMAF FC.

SIMAF F.C players at half time

The first half ended on same score line situation. Both teams went for lessons from their coaches and upon resumption for the second half, it was clear that luck had left Rangers FC. A defender, in a bit to head the ball out of the ring rather saw his hand playing the intended role of his head. It's a handball and the referee accorded a penalty in favour of SIMAF F.C
Frank, putting on jersey number 9 had no stress in converting the penalty into a goal, making it 2 for SIMAF and zero for Rangers.

Till the final blast of the whistle, nothing changed but for several foul plays that incited the referee to be charitable with his cards. A total of 7 cards, six yellow and one red were awarded. And finally the match ended with SIMAF F.C of Mbengwi backing home 3 points. In a low disappointment tune, the team captain of Rangers FC, Mbah Noel acknowledged that it was a poor show on their part but assured their supporters that "We are not losing hope. So we are going to put in more efforts next time and make sure we have a good game".

Ndi Tsembom Elvis, S.G, FECAFOOT N.W

Deiyebga Song, team captain for SIMAF F.C on his part said "Since December 1st 2018, we've been training very hard and I'm happy we won." To him, it's just the beginning because his team's objective this season is to go for the regional Interpol and probably beyond. Same satisfaction was shared by Ndi Tsembom Elvis, FECAFOOT N.W Secretary General concerning the successful start of the league. "After all the huddles we went through to get a playground to launch this year's regional championship, I am extremely happy we finally did the launching" were his words. The championship shall be made up of 4 poles of 4 teams each giving a total of 16. Two teams will qualify from each group to play the regional interpol.

Komando Ernest Full, team coach, SIMAF F.C

Komando Ernest Ful is the team coach of SIMAF F.C Mbengwi. To him, it would've been a fiasco if his boys never won because from their preparations, he expected more goals that just two. As to the prospects of his team, he said their target for now is the mini interpol. Asked if he noticed some lapses at the organisational level, he said "As of now, it is too early to judge them given that it's a new bureau but with what I've seen and heard about their projects, I think they'll do better given that the league is being managed by a young man with young and agile collaborators."_ he ended.

What Went Wrong During the Mbengwi Council Session

What Went Wrong During the Mbengwi Council Session?

It was at exactly midday that the senior Divisional Officer of Momo Division and his “Etat Major” made entry into the Mbengwi Council hall, this Thursday March 14 2019 to supervise the holding of the 2018 Administrative Accounts Session. Probably for the first time in five years, Councillor Kadiri Ahmadou, the lone municipal representative of the Muslims said an opening prayer in Fufulde. This was preceded by a refrain of the national anthem. The council’s Secretary General, Mr. Ndokonyi Musa will then conduct a roll call from which sixteen councilors out of twenty five answered present. The rest had sent in proxies. Done with the exercise, the S.G turned and told the S.D.O, “The S.D.O of Momo, the councilors here form a quorum and by law, session can proceed.”

And that was how business started with the reading of the agenda by Mayor Tebe Beatrice that was later moved for adoption by Councillor Morris Tagyen, seconded by Councillor Dorine Fonjong. With the election of Councillor Tembeng Daniel as Minutes Secretary, the mayor then proceeded to read her welcome address in which she said, “We all know that the years past have been awkward for obvious reasons and many expectations difficult to achieve to a greater extent.” She also disclosed that some councilors and council workers have just had a bitter share of the repercussions of the crisis as individuals and the Mbengwi council as a whole hasn’t been able to function to its fullest capacity.

Session

As time went on, matters became serious. Minutes of the previous session (November 2018) were then reviewed and moved for adoption by Councilor Tezi Sera seconded by Councilor Foje Margerate. This will then usher in committee reports beginning with Works Committee that questioned the mayor on why Mbengwi Council dropped from the 4th to the 10th position according to the latest P.N.D.P Performance Basket Annalysis. P.N.D.P, the National Community Driven Development Program is one of the most cherished partners of councils in Cameroon. The Embellishment Committee in its own report, appreciated the mayor for the environmentally friendly trees that are growing healthily and beautifying the streets of Mbengwi town. Other reports came in from the Heath and Education Committee, Natural Resources Committee and lastly, the Finance Committee.

After the reports, full deliberations then started, beginning with a general reaction from the S.D.O who expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which session was proceeding. However, considering that it is probably out of ignorance, Absalom Monono Woloa briefly schooled the councilors on what’s expected of them during an Administrative Accounts Session. He told them it is to question the mayor on the level of realization of the 2018 projects and resolutions they adopted, that they are to ask the mayor to render them account (financially inclusive) on what’s been done, where, at what level and if they are satisfied. “Do not be a rubber stamp” Monono told the councilors who will giggled when he added that “I know many of you here have only come to collect your seating allowances.” 

Cross section of councillors and service heads in session

His lessons were positively received and appreciated. “If you think that the learning process will ever stop, then you are mistaken and once you accept to learn, you improve” said Tebe Beatrice in reaction to the S.D.Os reaction. The Municipal Treasurer, Mr. Gwain Nicholas then read the financial account from which one could deduce a drastic drop in revenue collection. While many account the reason for this to the current escalating crisis, to the S.D.O, it is rather because workers don’t want to work and as such have tagged Mbengwi the worst place to work in yet they keep collecting their monthly salaries thus milking the council and state coffers dry.

Upon completion of the exercise and following orders of such a session, the mayor then had to temporarily lost possession of her seat on the high table for a pro tem chair to be elected by the councilors and as usual, just as has been the case with Councilor Tembeng Daniel to always be elected minutes secretary, so too has it been with councilor Tezi Sera to always be elected pro tem chair following what’s now known within the council circles as “as usual.” Her mission was to coordinate the councilors in the adoption of the Administrative Account, Annual Investment Plan among others which she did. Summarily, the Mbengwi Council’s 2018 Administrative Accounts in revenue and expenditure stands as follows:

~ Revenue: 462.317.352F (Four hundred and sixty two million, three hundred and seventeen thousand, three hundred and fifty two) Francs

~ Expenditure: 343.221.247F (Three hundred and forty three million, two hundred and twenty one thousand, two hundred and forty seven) Francs

~ Carried Forward: 119.095.765F (One hundred and nineteen million, ninety five thousand, seven hundred and sixty five) Francs.

By now, tiredness and hunger had set in thus many were itchy to hurry over things but were cautioned by the supervisory authority, the S.D.O that “It is not because we are tired, hungry and time is against us that we should just move everything correct.” He will then continue to present his closing speech at the end of which the mayor on behalf of the councilors offered him a congratulatory handshake for its content. Session then rose to an end with a promise to hold the midterm evaluation session provided the means permits.

In the Absence of 11 February, Young Presbyterians in Mbengwi Manage Rally

In the Absence of 11 February, Young Presbyterians in Mbengwi Manage Rally

Without getting into the nitty gritty surrounding the controversies of 11 February as advanced by scholars, a day annually commemorated in Cameroon as National Youth Day, a day that has lost steam and stamina in the two English speaking regions of Cameroon because of the ongoing crisis that has resulted to a shutdown of schools for over two years now and still counting, with the rural areas being highest affected, kids of school going age in these two regions have for no just reason been deprived of their right to education and celebration of their once cherished Youth Day. Before the advent of the current crisis, 11 February meant so much to the kids even more than Christmas day. The preparations prior to the commemoration of the day were indicative of the importance children paid to 11 February.

Aerial View of Y.Ps in Church

All this while, thousands of these kids especially those born prior to or during the school shutdown era have little knowledge of neither spoken nor written English. Many don't know the alphabets, they can't count. They are ignorant of how a school setting looks like and what goes on there.

Y.Ps of Njembeng Congregation Parading

Having been deprived of national youth day related activities for over two years now because of the shutdown of schools in the two English speaking regions of Cameroon, youths in Mbengwi Central Sub Division are now looking for any least opportunity to commune with friends and rekindle memories of the lost glorious days like 11 February. This was the case last Sunday March 10 2019 as a Young Presbyterians rally of Mbengwi Central zone that was hosted by G.H.S Congregation could be mistaken for 11 February celebrations. Clad in their Y.P uniforms, the hundreds of Young Presbyterians drawn from Mbengwi, Station, Njembeng, Ngyen-Mbo and G.H.S Congregation were so full of excitement. Having been deprived of their basic right to education as schools in Mbengwi just like in several parts of mostly the rural areas of Anglophone Cameroon have been shutdown, it was a rear opportunity for the kids to once more ride a bicycle, eat biscuits and rice as a group, suck what is commonly called "alaska" and go back home with sticks of cane sugar.

Cane sugar to carry home

Buying & Selling of "Alaska"

Munyam Philemon, Sabi Edith and Tekwi Precious are Y.P members from Station, Njembeng and Mbengwi Congregation respectively. The trio expressed total satisfaction with the successful outcome of the rally. Edith wished she could remain a Young Presbyterian forever but hopes to join the Christian Youth Fellowship (C.Y.F) soon while Precious felt proud being with his friends and felt excited to have partaken in singing, bible quiz, brain trust and parade. Philemon will just simply give God all the glory.

Tekwi Precious, Y.P of Mbengwi Congregation

Apart from the merriment, some elders saw the rally as a remedy to the increasing rate of illiteracy among youths and thus called on the government to end the war for it's by the grace of God that those living today are still alive. According to Mr. Foncham Emmanuel, the Congregational Chairperson of G.H.S Congregation, some weeks prior to the  yearly rally, the children meet everyday to study songs, the Bible, recitations etc and this improves their educational level. "All what we are hoping for is that the government of Cameroon should do something to remedy the situation" he ended.

Mr. Foncham Emmanuel, P.C G.H.S Congregational Chairman

Edward Tangyi Morikang is the Y.P Station leader for Mbengwi Central. Assessing the outcome of the event, he expressed satisfaction with the activities as they were actively carried out but regretted the absence of one congregation, Nongmekweh, out of the six that make up the zone. He also extended appreciation to the National Youth Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon for choosing a theme that focuses on God's grace. He ended with a way forward to the crisis. Hear him, "I pray that this our political crisis come to an end because it's by the grace of God that we will solve this problem, not by man, not by weapons, not by any other means."

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At the end of the rally the children went back home satisfied though none knowing when they'll once more be given their well deserved right to education.

Miracle Rain Falls in Mbengwi as Women Cry in Church

Miracle Rain Falls in Mbengwi as Women Cry in Church

This year’s edition of the International Women’s Day witnessed a different commemoration approach in Mbengwi, chief town of Momo Division. In the past, activities like speeches, march past, exhibitions and merriment used to take place on the ceremonial grand stand. That was when the going was good. With the current stakes of uncertainty due to the socio-economic and political crisis rocking the two English speaking regions of Cameroon, instead of celebrating, women in Mbengwi this year decided to mourn.

Ecumenical church service at PC Njembeng

Women of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, Meta Presbytery have within the past three years been meeting every Friday for fasting and prayers from one congregation to another. Coincidentally, this year’s IWD fell on a Friday. Therefore, working in close collaboration with the administration of the division and sub division, hundreds of women rallied at P.C.C Njembeng Congregation to cry unto the Lord for the restoration of peace in their land and nation. This was in the presence of administrative authorities like the Momo Senior Divisional Officer and his second assistant, the Divisional Officer of Mbengwi, other collaborators and forces of law and order who kept away their guns to join hands with civilians in seeking for peace.

This is not the first time prayers for peace have been organized in Mbengwi. The ecumenical church service involved Catholic women, Apostolic women and other denominations. The streets were empty, shops closed, no circulation because of a ghost town that was enforced on the two regions as a means to counter any celebration activities of the day yet the women braved the odds to be in church. Placed under the theme “Women, Cry for Peace in Our Land”, the officiating minister used the service to recount Biblical stories of how women like Debra, Ruth, Abigail and others cried unto the Lord and he answered their prayers positively.

Deserted ceremonial grandstand

The service also had prayer intercessions for the displaced and refugees, for understanding, for the leaders, for Mbengwi and above all for peace to return to the entire nation. “Whether ‘Amba’ or military, they are our children”, the women said and that only they understand the pains of carrying a child for 9 months, raising up the child with expectations that tomorrow he will serve like her walking stick only for the child to end up in the bushes, take devilish powers and end up being killed and allowed to rot without even being buried or the corpse being dumped at public squares for all to see. 

When the stories and experiences became soul touching, the women couldn’t hold back their tears. The scene became sorrowful as the women cried out their eyes; that they’ve buried their husbands and boys, that their children are now giving birth to children, that there are no more schools as such their children are growing wayward, that in the bible king’s women cried and God answered them but Cameroon’s women in leadership positions haven’t cried for the powers that be to do something to end the war. As tears came down from their cheeks, the skies opened and showers of blessings came washing away their tears, an act interpreted by the S.D.O as a positive response from above that “I have heard your cries”. Immediately the intercessions stopped, the light downpour also subsided.

Ghost town, lifeless Mbon Motor Park

Addressing the hundreds of women at the end of the service, Absalom Monono Woloa, the Senior Divisional Officer of Momo Division appreciated the move taken by the mothers to cry for peace. He disclosed that as government officials, when the 8th of March starts approaching, they too start thinking of what to do but that this year, after consultations with the Divisional Delegation of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, he expressed the wish that women in his division should use their day to seek the face of God rather than staging activities on the grand stand involving few persons. To him, such pretence won’t help. “We can’t be celebrating in crisis”, Monono told the women who responded with a thunderous round of applause.

Absalom Monono Woloa, Momo's S.D.O

Responding to the local press on how he felt seeing women crying, Monono said, “Anybody following up what’s happening in our communities should be weeping. You can’t be in a community where business persons are crying, children not going to school, teenagers getting pregnant, youths getting delinquent and you don’t weep.” “Shading the tears with the women gives us an opportunity to realize that we have to work hard very seriously to restore peace in our land” he added.

In a very symbolic gesture, the women offered peace plants to the administrators whom after appreciating the offer, will later hand them back to the women with firm instructions for them to go offer their children in the bushes who have picked up arms against the state accompanied with a firm call for them to return home and regain normal life. The government has tried and recorded little success in disarming the restoration forces, thus time to try the women for know one knows. After all, they've always gotten a way out to the most precarious situations

Evaluating the success of the event, Madam Doreen Fonjong, Momo’s Divisional Delegate of Women’s Empowerment and the Family said “We can’t be celebrating in Momo Division, we can’t be celebrating in Mbengwi because we aren’t having peace, we can’t celebrate when our children are in the bushes.” Compared to other areas, Mbengwi has been relatively calm and hasn’t witnessed some of the excesses perpetrated by both warring factions elsewhere. But for ghost town days, life goes on normally within Mbengwi town and in the suburbs. To the delegate, this is a clear sign that God, who has the final say in everything, is hearing their cries.

Boy Cheats Dead While Saving Another From Electrocution

Boy Cheats Dead While Saving Another From Electrocution 

Born on January 11, 1994 in Bangoua, West Region of Cameroon, 25 years old Pengang Christophe Dimitri is seemingly Cameroon’s most neglected hero of recent times. It was in the afternoon of Sunday February 3rd 2019 in a quarter in Douala known as “Quatier Non Glacé” that Christophe saved the life of a certain Derio, said to be in his early 40s from electrocution. Derio is an Eneo (the electricity utility company) worker and had mounted the pole that unfortunate day for some maintenance work; little did he know the ill luck that awaited him. In a one on one with Christophe on March 3rd 2019 in Douala, he began by telling me about his early beginnings.

Since childhood, he had always dreamed of becoming a security officer, be it police, soldier or fire fighter. Unfortunately his parents hadn’t the financial means to educate him. Thus, he never even saw the walls of a primary school. However, today, he’s very knowledgeable and full of common sense and when he expresses himself in French, one will think he went through school. In the year 2013, after having saved some money from doing odd jobs, he quitted the village for greener pastures in Douala, Cameroon’s commercial capital.

Christophe carrying down victim on his shoulders

Upon arrival in Douala, he was welcomed with hard life; living on the streets, lacking what to eat, where to sleep, having nothing to do till finally he got connected to a builder that’s today his master. He’s been following him around to provide him assistance at construction sites. Today, from his little earnings, Chistophe has been financing the education of his kid sisters back in the village and even sending some money to his poor mother. He says he wants his younger ones to school plus on his behalf, reason why he wishes they attain the highest level of education they can.

In early February, Christophe did something for which he will forever be remembered. His bravery earned him media attention after he saved a man from electrocution. As the story goes, on that fateful day, he was idling in the quarter when a friend passed and told him that someone has died on an electric pole nearby and has been hanging on it for the past hours. He gave a deaf ear to the breaking news. Minutes later, another friend passed by and told him the very news. This time around he reluctantly decided to go and see for himself what was going on. Upon arrival at the scene, he was quick to notice that the said person was still alive. Below the pole were hundreds of onlookers including police officers and Eneo workers, yet none dared to offer the victim a helping hand. A majority of persons were rather filming and snapping the helpless victim with their phones.

Entrapped electrician dangling from pole

“I don’t know what came over me” he said. “All I recall is that with the courage my master has been instilling in me, I immediately got a ladder, put on a thick dress and speedily mounted the pole and brought down the victim” he added. He went on to narrate how upon successfully bringing down the victim, the police officers that were there immediately drove them to the hospital for medical attention. Unfortunately upon return, they never drove him home or back to the scene of action. He was abandoned along the way where he sat down trembling, probably an effect of the tension he went through to safe Derio until it was a bike rider that passed and gave him a ride home.

Quizzed on why he had to bear such risk to mount the pole and safe the trapped electrician knowing well that it could cost his life, he said “I don’t know what happened. Something pricked me. I speedily mounted the pole using a ladder and untied the belt on his waist.” He continued his narration; “People asked me to drop him. Some even brought in mattresses and placed below the pole saying I should drop him to fall on, that’s he’s dead already else I’ll also be electrocuted. But I told myself NO.” According to his narrative, the victim had suffered from enormous burns and if he was dropped down as some opined, he would’ve died. With all his might, courage and trust in God, Christophe detached the victim’s belt, carried him on his shoulders and safely descended with him. Today he is very happy the victim is alive and has been discharged from hospital. However, he would’ve felt so bad if after saving him, the victim gave up the ghost in the hospital. But if it was God’s will, then so should it have been.

Christophe & myself after interview

Since February 3rd 2019, the day of the incidence till date, Pengang Christophe Dimitri has received no financial or material support for his act of heroism, not even from the government, Eneo or any institution. Awards have been organized yet his heroism has gone unappreciated but for a few media organs that reported his story, that’s all. Despite this neglect, he says he’s not disappointed because he wasn’t doing that for recognition but for humanity and in good faith. It’s his God given talent and he can’t neglect using it because he won’t be appreciated. He’s however hopeful that by the grace of God, one day he will be surprisingly awarded for his act. He added that if today he sees another person in another life threatening situation, with his good heart, he’ll still do his best to safe him/her. And that if in the course he dies, then it’ll be God’s will. After all, this wasn’t the first time he’s done such. Some years back, while in the village, he jumped into a river and saved a drowning boy after it rained heavily. Both were carried away by the current but he successfully swam to the banks for safety.

As word of advice to the public, he pleaded that subsequently, should a human being be in danger, those around must first prioritize saving the person rather than filming and snapping with their phones to later go and sell the images. To him, with such attitudes, Cameroon won’t evolve. Moreover, though not the first to have carried out such an act of heroism, he wishes subsequently, such shouldn’t go unnoticed. Heroes and heroines shouldn’t be neglected. Persons who risk their lives to safe others or carry out acts of bravery should at least be appreciated even if not necessarily financially. Just verbal recognition is motivational, he ended.

Pengang Christophe Dimitri can be reached on +237 675 89 81 31