Fon Organises Christmas Party in Guneku Palace for the Disabled

Fon Organises Christmas Party in Guneku Palace for the Disabled

To mark this end of year 2019, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Mbengwi have feasted with H.R.H Dr. Fomuki Walters of Guneku village in the Meta Clan, Mbengwi. On Saturday December 21st 2019, the palace arena was as busy as a beehive as close to a hundred disabled persons drawn from several parts of the sub division were in Guneku to commune with the fon whom though abroad, had his eyes and ears on the ground.

PWDs Having a Common Meal in the Palace 

Mr. Ngwa Vitalis, the fon's representative in explaining how the gesture came about said early this year, the lone community radio station in Mbengwi, Rainbow Radio broadcast a special report on the challenges faced by disabled persons in the municipality especially in the course of the ongoing armed conflict known as the Anglophone crisis.

H.R.H Dr. Fomuki Walters Ticha Fomujang, during his Coronation as Fon of Guneku Village on 27 January 2015
Photo Credit: GordonShots

As revealed by Mr. Agwe Eric Tata, president of the Association of Persons with Special Abilities (APSA) Mbengwi, first, there's that trauma coupled with inability to run for safety during gun exchanges due to visual or mobility impairment. As such, most are often abandoned to themselves or instead run into more danger. Via social media, the report got to the  fon's ears in Germany where he's based and he felt their pains. 

After being touched by their bitter testimonies, a convivial relationship was thus established between the fon and the PWDs. On June 4th 2019, about 25 of them assembled at the radio house in Mile 18, Ku-Bome, Mbengwi were a financial package from the fon was distributed to them. From the positive feedback gotten after the exercise, the royal authority was inspired to step in again and help this December 2019.

Entrance into the Guneku Fon's Palalace

One good turn deserves another said Mr. Ngwa Vitalis as he went further to explain that the fon thought it wise for the beneficiaries to know his palace since during the first donation exercise, they were only told the package was from the fon neither knowing where Guneku is nor how his palace looks like. So this time around, he decided to bring them right into the inner circles of his palace for a common end of year feast.

While in the palace, the physically challenged were offered a sumptuous meal. Though beneficiaries, they too also offered gifts to the palace through princess Fomuki Carine, herself being a disability expert that has worked with the SEEPD Program of the CBC Health Service. The physically challenged persons, both Meta indegenes, non Metas and the Mbororos spent time entertaining the palace with songs, drama, and a debate on who needs more help, between the cripple and the blind.

Dance by Bryma, Mentally Unstable

Staging by the Mbororos

Presenting Gifts to the Palace

Drama

Before leaving, they were offered a check of 500.000Frs by the fon for their socioeconomic empowerment while promising to always be by them when need arises. In appreciating the initiative and the financial donation, the association's president on behalf of the members said "I give praises to this palace and to His Royal Highness because it's thanks to him that we were able to resume our meetings and activities since the association had died down because of the crisis. After the first donation he promised to do more and today, he has matched words with action." To him, the gesture came just in time to put a big smile on the faces of persons with special abilities within the Mbengwi municipality.

On how some of them plan to judiciously utilise their own share of the money, Mrs. Ngong Cecilia Feh, a visually impaired from Kobenyang village said, "This package will help to enhance our daily activities as some of us keep birds, animals and do agriculture. So, with this, we will be able to afford good species of seedlings, animals and birds plus their feed. By so doing, our livelihoods will be improved upon"

Cross Section of Beneficiaries at the Event 

In biding them farewell, Mr. Ndingwan Primus, the Guneku Traditional Council Chairman tasked the beneficiaries to be courageous no matter the nature of their body for each and everyone has a task here to perform on earth and it should be well done.

It should be recalled that not only did the traditional authority provide aide to the PWDs but also to the channel through which their cries were amplified. Modern microphones were sent to Rainbow Radio in June 2019 and ever since they were installed, the quality of broadcast has been improved upon.

Kwem Dance Group 

The event was greased by the Kwem Dance Group of Guneku. The beneficiaries now look forth to properly utilising the assistance so that apart from the fon, other concerned individuals and institutions may also see need to come to their aide.

CAMASEJ Elections: Victor & Vanquished Demonstrate Political Maturity

CAMASEJ Elections: Victor & Vanquished Demonstrate Political Maturity

Viban Jude is now the  new national president of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists, (CAMASEJ). He beat his challenger Moki Charles during the national elective general assembly that was held in Douala on Saturday 30th June 2019.

Viban Jude (R) & Moki Charles (L) After Declaration of Results

Despite the tensions which is but normal during such exercises, the election went on well and upon proclamation of final results, both winner and loser embraced each other promising to put CAMASEJ over their individual interests

In his acceptance speech, Viban Jude told the electorate "I promise on behalf of the team that we are going to work with everyone because we are all talented in our various ways. Moki is somebody I have a lot of respect for. I count on his support and experience. CAMASEJ remains the winner" Moki Charles on his part congratulated Jude and in also addressing the electorate said "We have an objective to support this team and make CAMASEJ great again. Mr. President you can count on my support."

Moki Congratulating Viban for his Victory
Photo Credit: GPmREDIA

Before now, Simon Lyonga of CRTV was at the helm of the association since August  2015 till November 2019 when fresh elections were conducted. Viban Jude of CAMASEJ Yaounde chapter works for L'Action Newspaper while Moki Charles of CAMASEJ Douala chapter works for a corporation. 

219 delegates from the various CAMASEJ chapters nationwide, that is Douala, Yaounde, Buea, Kumba, Limbe and North West took part in the elections and at the end of the vote counting exercise, Viban Jude had 126 votes while Moki Charles had 92.

Viban's Supporters Celebrating Victory by lifting up their New President

Douala chapter presented the highest number of delegates, 72 followed by Yaounde with 48, Bamenda with 34, Kumba with 30, Buea with 29 and 23 for Limbe. 

The electoral board that coordinated the exercise was made up Obah Rosaline, Station Manager of CBS Radio, Bamenda, Pa Gideon Tarka, Station Manager of Radio Hot Cocoa Bamenda and Comfort Musa, a Yaoundé based corporate communicator.

Prior to the elective general assembly, campaigns were hot mostly on social media. Both aspiring candidates had ardent campaigners that aggressively took social media platforms mostly WhatsApp groups hostage with campaign messages for their choice candidates.

Electoral Board
L-R: Comfort Musa, Obah Rose, Gideon Tarka

Even some Cameroon journalists (social media activists) of  English expression  based abroad sided with their desired candidates in a bit to win more voters for them. While Mimi Mefo of  Mimi Mefo Info was for Moki Charles, Eric Tataw of National Telegraph and Nfor Hanson of Cameroon News Agency backed Viban Jude. The trio each wrote and circulated short messages on social media why they think Candidate "A" or "B" will better serve the association.

Both aspirants are said to have produced rich manifestos reflecting the aspirations of many English speaking journalists in Cameroon as regards salary situation, access to information, arbitrary arrests, international exposure just to name these few. 

Delegates at the EGA

Viban Jude for example in his manifesto told the electorate, "With your support, together we will resurrect the association and take it to an enviable level. It is time to pick 'A New Angle' hinged on advocacy, defending the rights of journalists, training, welfare and career development of our members." 

Moki Charles on his part summarised his manifesto in what he termed The ATAN Model, meaning Advocacy, Training, Awareness and Networking. His plan was to enhance professionalism, encourage respect of ethics and standards, focus on regular capacity building initiatives for members, promote merit and excellence through an annual award and set up a CAMASEJ permanent secretariat either in Buea or Bamenda.

Simon Lyonga, Out Gone CAMASEJ National President
Photo Credit: GPmEDIA

CAMASEJ elections have often been done via the list system, meaning a president is voted and he then builds his team taking into consideration representation of all the chapters. As such the new team to head CAMASEJ National Bureau for a period of four years provided the constitutional mandate duration isn't changed is made up of:

1. President - Viban Jude - Yaounde 

2. Vice President - Maimo Davidson - Limbe 

3. Secretary General - Wanchia Cynthia - N.W 

4. Vice S.G - Bennen Buma  Gana - Yaounde 

5. Treasurer - Ursula Ajebesone - Kumba 

6. Financial Secretary - Nanji Pelagie - Buea 

7. Assistant Fin. Sec - Frida Egbe - Yaounde 

8. Public Relations Officer - Jatto Richard - N.W

9. Social Sec - Richard Shengang - Kumba 

10. Auditor - Tayong Fah Elvis - Douala 

The electoral exercise was preceded by two educative talks from Barrister Nico Halle on peace and Franklin Kiven of UNESCO on humanitarian reporting. Many now await the implementation of the promises the winner made. 

Mbemi Elites Abroad Assist Affected Villagers at Home

Mbemi Elites Abroad Assist Affected Villagers at Home

Mbemi elites, 16 in number, resident in Maryland, U.S.A have consolidated their efforts and sent home remittances in the form of food  aide to villagers that have persevered in  the ongoing anglophone crisis.

The distribution exercise took place on Wednesday November 27th 2019 in the Mbemi MECUDA Hall and targeted solely Mbemi villagers resident in the village and other satellite territories or quarters like  Gunenung, Meh, Sang and Ndeungeunung.

Part of Donated Items

A total of 680 men, women and children of Mbemi extraction benefited from the package that comprised of 25bags of rice, 10 cartons of soap, 12 bags of salt and a good quantity of maggi.

This wasn't the first time assistance has been provided to the population of Mbemi. In the past, The Colour of Roses Foundation, founded by Dr. Sylvia Dasi used to organise health fares in the village .

Apart from food crisis, the beneficiaries expressed the need for any further assistance to then come in the form of educational kits since for over three years now, because of the school shutdown in Anglophone Cameroon, remote schools like GS Mbemi are today in ruins as a young illiterate generation is being raised. They wish subsequent donors could rather send school material and finance to motivate teachers who will opt to teach even if it means making at least one functional community school.

Mr. Angye Emmanuel Akara, Distribution Coordinator 

This information was disclosed to Mbengwi Online by Mr. Angye Emmanuel Akara, home coordinator of the donation exercise. The booty came from the collective efforts of Mrs. Sylvia Nanji, Dr. Sabine Fomunyam, Alfred Dasi, Mafor Merci Dasi, Dr. Tekum Fonong, Charles Tangwan, Dr. Ebie Nyambi, Divine Ndakwa, Adeline Moma, John Musong, Dr. Sylvia Dasi, Goddy  Chick, Constance Fongon, Windely Nanji, Chris Nanji and Dr. Menyonga Andy

It should be noted that villagers of Mbemi have within the past one month joint those of other villagers in the Tondig zone of the Meta clan to be rehabilitating their earth roads every Mondays.

L-R: Fon Fombo of Njindom, Mbahbit of Mbemi & Mbacham of Wumnemburg Supervising Community Road Works 

Military & "Amba" Excesses Dramatised at C.W.F Meta Presbytery Rally

Military & "Amba" Excesses Dramatised at C.W.F Meta Presbytery Rally

The 2019 edition of the C.W.F Meta Presbytery rally has come and gone but the dust raised is still to settle. Members of the Christian Women Fellowship of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, Meta Presbytery held their 2019 annual rally last Sunday November 24th 2019 at the Christian Women Centre, Mile 18 Mbengwi where commemorative activities began with a divine service.

Dramatising Military Attacks

Fortunately, despite the ongoing Anglophone crisis, almost all the groups in the presbytery answered present. Madam Tamanji Catherine is the C.W.F Meta Presbytery Chairperson. Assessing this year's edition of the annual religious rendezvous, she said "I believe the rally has been very successful. You know this is a transitional period as it's the first rally hosted by this new regime. I'm very delighted with the women who've left all the way from the suburbs to come here. You know we are in the real 'Amba' zone but the women braved the odds to be here to praise and worship God for what He's done in their lives.

The high point of the rally was during singing competition as the women dramatised the challenges they face in the hands of the military and Amba boys (restoration forces). Some even put on real military uniform holding a gun-like object made out of bamboo to better convey their message. As they stole the show, on lookers couldn't take their eyes off the amusing performances.

Staging Military Attack

Madam Mayaba Florence  is a member of C.W.F Njinibi Congregation. She dressed and acted like a soldier. Quizzed on the message they were sending across, she said "I was just trying to illustrate the suffering through which the 'Ground Zero' are going through and how the military people are maltreating those of us who are in the villages and so we are saying that they should stop because it is the ordinary man who's suffering not even the boys whom they are looking for"

Other activities to mark this year's C.W.F Meta Presbytery rally that was massively attended included exhibition, raising of funds for the completion of work at  the Christian Women Centre Mbengwi and also to  assist Nji Sandra, an 18 year old C.Y.F member of P.C Mbengwi Congregation suffering from brain turmoil following a childhood accident she had and is at moment in need of one point five million francs for an operation in a specialised hospital. Though a women rally, men were also present to grease the once in a year event. 

Madam Fon Vivian, CWF Meta Presbytery President 

To Madam Fon Vivian, C.W.F Meta Presbytery President, she gives God the glory for the turnout at the rally. Hear her, "Looking at the present situation plaguing the English speaking regions of Cameroon, I didn't expect that women will come in this number. It proves that they hold firm to the Lord, it proves to the world that God is supreme." On challenges faced in the build up to the rally, she noted that going round the various zones of the presbytery to mobilise the women to come out wasn't easy but since with God everything is possible, success was still recorded. 

College of Clergy at the Rally

Asked to make meaning out of the artistic performances by the women, Madam Vivian  said "The message was that despite what's happening in our country today, we should depend on God because when we go into our study material, we have lessons there that say in times of war, things like this happen and in the face of insecurity, rejection, withdrawal, to whom shall we go? Unto the Lord."

The Christian Women Centre Mbengwi is a mega structure that upon full completion will contain a hall, a storeyed building for lodging and space for other activities. The current presbytery EXCO intends to either complete or take the project a step further before their mandate ends in under five years from now.

The women expressed the need for the ongoing crisis to end so that peace returns. In under a fortnight, the Christian Men Fellowship (CMF) of the Meta Presbytery will also be holding their own annual come together.

CCMN to Continue Promoting SDGs

CCMN to Continue Promoting SDGs

Members of the North West and West chapter of the Cameroon Community Media Network (CCMN) have resolved to continue promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. They came to this conclusion at the end of a one day meeting that had as objective, to evaluate the Peace Journalism and Conflict Transformation Project of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon being implemented by the network and propose future projects for sponsorship since the life span of the Peace Journalism project shall soon be completed.

CCMN NW/W Chapter BOD Members

Maikem Emmanulla is a UN Trained SDG promoter. As a member of the network, she couldn't hide expressing her feelings when she learnt of the resolution by CCMN NW/W chapter members to engage in an SDG promotion project. She said, "I'm very happy to learn that CCMN in the days ahead will work on SDG 11 because as a whole, they are being neglected in our communities. People aren't aware they even exist and these are goals that target issues that affect our communities. Therefore bringing SDGs into the network is going to help communities know what they're all about and promote best practices"

Though seemingly a new concept in the ears of many, these goals were introduced by the U.N since 2015. Emmanuella explained that SDGs use the bottom-top approach by starting with the common man to create room for inclusion and involvement of everyone in their own development. She added that at first, the concept of Millennium Development goals came about but never lasted for long because it rather targeted those at the top for development implementation but with SDGs, everyone is included, from the commoner to the officials and policy makers.

Maikem Emmanuella, CCMN Member/SDGs Promoter

SDGs are designed for the world but there are fears while other nations would've have succeeded to implement most, if not all of them before the 2030 deadline, Cameroon will still be lagging behind reasons being the ongoing Anglophone crisis, Boko Haram attacks, post elections violence etc. "The crisis in the anglophone regions has trampled on development a lot" said Maikem Emmanuella.

"We have roads that are not being developed, the health sector is being affected, teenage pregnancy everywhere, people are sick, hungry and are in temporal shelters needing homes most especially IDPs. In fact we have so many problems that need to be fixed" she added before ending on a pessimistic note that if all these problems aren't solved, achieving SDGs in Cameroon come 2030 is going to be far fetched.

Welcoming participants at the meeting that took place on Wednesday November 20th 2019 at the Presbyterian Church Centre, Ntamulung, Bamenda, the Program Manager, Akah Rosaline Obah disclosed that CCMN has been congratulated in several quarters for setting the pace in not only talking but walking the talk when it comes to peace journalism. She called on all to remain peace builders and advocates in their various corners. Lastly, she revealed that because of its good output, membership in the chapter has grown to 60 and that from next year, the network shall exist in six chapters; North West, South West, Littoral, Centre, West and North.

Some network members

Shared into groups to do a situational analyses of the project, attendees were tasked to  evaluate the contribution of the media in deescalating the conflict and the contributions of other stakeholders in the conflict deescalation process. From the various responses, it was visible that media houses now report about the crisis using the peace journalism approach and as such,  irresponsible citizen journalism has been greatly reduced plus the exposure given by the media to humanitarian concerns emanating from the crisis that has  led to the influx of international humanitarian bodies into the region to assist the displaced and affected persons.

However, they admitted it's not been all rosy as some organs have vehemently continued to rather escalate the crisis through hate speech, fake news and sensational/war journalism though in minimal instances.

The positive and negative contributions of state actors, non state actors, the civil society and religious bodies in the ongoing crisis were also assessed together with new challenges and opportunities gained by the media, the community and others.

Before the meeting ended, the network members resolved to engage in a new project that will go in line with promoting any Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations. The soon to end Peace Journalism and Conflict Transformation Project fell under goal 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. After deliberations, it was concluded that the next project will have to do with SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities and or SDG 13 - Climate Action.

The members will from now henceforth in addition to peace reporting also focus on covering the upcoming February 9th 2019 municipal and legislative elections, humanitarian reporting, food insecurity, poor waste management in the region especially Bamenda central town, poor road infrastructure and rampant kidnaps for ransoms.

What the People of Mbengwi Told the Peace Caravan

What the People of Mbengwi Told the Peace Caravan

Amongst the frustrations expressed by the population was that of a certain Pa Ndakwe that set all onlookers chairing  for his frankness. He told the Peace Caravan,  "Mr. Biya declared this war and hasn't called for a ceasefire, therefore this your coming here won't bear any fruits. Why? Because the war is still ongoing. Before the dialogue, there were calls for all arrested to be freed. If Mr. Biya had dialogged with those in jail that represent us, we would have known peace. But since they are still behind bars, there's no assurance that this your peace mission will bear any fruits. It won't work. We can agree here but tomorrow nothing will change because those people are still locked up. All these groups you keep sending to the field are of no use. How many groups have been sent? Which of them has brought any change on the ground? Go and tell him to talk himself for there's just one thing he should say and there'll be peace. Its not a matter of you wasting government money on petrol that you are coming to preach peace. I've sacrificed myself. I know by evening you'll send soldiers to come and kill me. I don't have any use for Cameroon now again."

Amongst those who expressed their worries was Anyang Meshack who complained about uniform officers at checkpoints not recognising certificate of lost document. Mbah Shadrack on his part  complained that because of school shutdown, he had to drop out of school and engage into bike riding to earn a living yet on daily basis, the military keeps harassing them with threats to impound their bikes if they don't pay 1000Frs for non possession of documents and that even when they plead with the men in uniform that there's no money to give  because of the economic hardship, they use their guns to intimidate them. He thus pleaded with the caravan to do all they could for schools to resume and call on the state forces to exercise some restrain and be understanding.

Other concerns raised were tasking the peace caravan to go and preach peace to the "Amba Boys" that are holding arms not the armless civilians and that the content of the special statues should be made known rather than turning around the bush over the issue as up till now, not even members of the caravan could tell the population with certainty what they shall gain from the special statues granted them in place of federation or the  secession some have been demanding.

Peace Caravan Addressing the Population at the Mbon Motor Park

The people of Mbengwi were expressing their grievances to the post national dialogue peace caravan that came visiting.

It was on Thursday November 21st 2019 that Honourable Enwe Francis, Member of Parliament for Momo West Constituency (Widikum, Ngie and Njikwa) led the peace caravan delegation to Mbengwi, divisional headquarters of Momo. The M.P went from bar to bar and inside the Mbon market preaching peace before finally stopping at the Mbon motor park for a question and answer session with the population.

With the aid of a public address mobile sound system, the visiting official passed across his message in Pidgin English. He told the people he's been sent together with his delegation by the regional chairperson of the North West Peace Caravan, His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi with the message of peace, reconciliation and love for one another.

Pa Ndakwe Embarrassing Caravan Delegation

One of the onlookers noted with regret that all  the concerns raised will end at the park since the M.P wasn't noting down any points anywhere. He listened to all and responded to those he could and at some point he told the people he too has been heavily hit by the crisis as his lone house in his native village, Bifang was burnt and one of his relatives buried alive.

Mbah Shaddrack alias Ajasko, Pleading for School Resumption and End to Harassment by Military 

Though heavily militarised, the visit of the Peace Caravan to Mbengwi was saluted by many as it's been long the population gained such an opportunity to freely talk without any fear or favour about the crisis to the hearing of state officials and the military. Previous meetings used to take place in the council hall and little room used to be given for questions. 

Talking to the press at the end of the caravan, Hon. Enwe Francis said "I'm proud and happy to be back home after a couple of years because of the present situation in our two regions. I'm so impressed that the population has welcomed the peace caravan with a lot of positive questions,  all wishing for peace to return. I do believe that the people of Momo are ready for peace and with the response we've had during our first outing, I'm sure we will be embraced with the same response in our subsequent outings in other parts of the division”

Hon. Enwe Francis, Momo Peace Caravan Leader

Sakwe Jarvis Esapa, D.O of Mbengwi 

He also revealed that he's given his phone number to the population to give to the fighters because he's ready to talk to them. "We are ready to talk to them" he said and ended by inviting all the elites of the division to reflect and come to the ground as a big block to talk to the people and seek reconciliation. Amongst those who accompanied the Momo West M.P to the Mbon motor park was Sakwe Jarvis Esapa, the recently installed new Divisional Officer of Mbengwi who made his first public appearance ever since taking over command of Mbengwi.

Bessi Fomukong Solar Electrification Project Abandoned

Bessi Fomukong Solar Electrification Project Abandoned

A multi-million solar electrification project in Bessi Fomukong that should've long been realised before now was long abandoned at the tail end of completion. This left the beneficiary population worried as to what becomes of the implanted solar plates and batteries. Since abandonment till date,  no information has filtered in concerning the future of the project. 

Bessi Fomukong is one of the villages that make up the Meta clan in Mbengwi central sub division. Located some 4km from the central town, the village was sometimes in the past earmarked for the construction of some faculties of the University of Bamenda. Some huge quantity of land was demarcated for that but it turned out to be a white elephant project.

Abandoned Solar Plant

In 2016, thanks to Sino-Cameroon relationship,  a contract to electrify the village through solar energy was awarded. Work started and was almost being completed but unfortunately,  workers later left the site  abandoning behind all what had already been implanted.

Mr. Tifuhangob Valentine is a notable in Bessi Fomukong. He worked hard to see the realisation of the solar electrification project of his village but is at moment disappointed with the abandonment. Speaking on behalf of the population,  he said "We the inhabitants of this village were very happy when we saw this project coming because we have been in darkness for a very long time. As it came, we contributed to do everything possible so that the thing should be realised. But at moment we don't know what is happening. We are appealing to the government or whosoever that they should at least look into our problem and finish the project."

Tifuhangop Valentine, Bessi Fomukong Notable

The project was abandoned in 2018 due to insecurity. Since the crisis started,  no gun battle has ever taken place in Bessi Fomukong. Instead,  it turned out to be a safe heaven as each time there were exchanges in Mbengwi central, many persons temporally relocated to Bessi for safety. However restoration forces on several occasions stormed the village,  falling down trees across the lone motorabel road entering the village to block any military penetration. The atmosphere was so tensed. It was during this period that workers at the solar plant had to abandon the project.

Mr. Tifuhangob Valentine  however assured those concerned with the project that Bessi is safe,  that the little skirmishes were short-lived and since then till date,  no incidence has been reported within the village.

With the failure in realising this giant project,  the villagers have continued to depend on kerosene lamps and ancient lighting systems at night. They are also uninformed on why the workers left and if they're still to be back. They don't even know where to go and ask.

That 50 Million Raising Dust at the Mbengwi Council

• That 50 Million Raising Dust at the Mbengwi Council

There goes an adage that it's the end that justifies the means. Another says he who laughs last laughs best. This is very true of the Mbengwi council as at the tail end of her 6 years mandate, Mayor Tebe Beatrice just backed home a colossus fifty million booty for the Mbengwi council, an amount obtained from the PNDP Performance Basket Award for local councils for the year 2019.

Mayor Presents Award to Fons

For the purpose of development and improvement of living standards of council areas, the Cameroon Government mandated the National Community Driven Development Program (PNDP) to facilitate local councils in carrying out projects in most localities in Cameroon meant to improve on the livelihoods of the people.  PNDP supervises the implementation of rural development projects financed by the European Union and the French Development Agency (AFD). One of the methods used to do this is through the organisation of the Performance Desk Award annually.

It was on Wednesday November 13th 2019 that councillors of the Mbengwi council met for the holding of the 2020 budgetary session meant to establish an expected revenue and expenditure framework for next year.  The council budget is a guide to the working principles of the institution prepared based on legal and standard procedure to ensure that it is achievable. 

2019 Mbengwi Council Budgetary Session

Chaired by the mayor under the supervisory authority of the Senior Divisional Officer for Momo, the session commenced with an opening speech from  Mayor Tebe in which she applauded her colleagues (councillors) for not relenting their efforts despite the hazardous previous years. She noted with regret the extinction of local revenue sources like the Tad market, Mbon market and Cattle market where no single franc was collected alongside the closure of the council feed mill and the irregular support from FEICOM amongst other setbacks thus making management really tight.

As a result,  the budget of the Mbengwi council for 2020 has dropped from six hundred and ninety nine millions, two hundred and forty seven thousand,  four hundred and sixty seven (699. 274.467) Frs for this year  to six hundred and eighty three millions, nine hundred and twenty thousand and two (683.920.002) Frs for next year.

Mayor Tebe & the Booty

In spite of these difficulties,  the council according to the mayor,  still succeeded to record ground breaking achievements like training more than 75 youths in the manufacturing of pavement blocks even though from findings,  the outcome of this project has little to be desired. Mbengwi Council was amongst the two councils in the North West that benefitted from the endeavour and largesse of the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ketcha Coutes. Through the Association of Female Mayors of Cameroon that lobbied for funds from France,  Mbengwi Council was offered 33 solar street lights that are today Illuminating the municipality at night. 

During deliberations at the council session,  committee reports were presented at the end of which the mayor reacted to some of the concerns raised. The health committee for example quizzed the mayor on why the municipality especially the Mbon area is dirty. In response,  the mayor said even in Bamenda, waste management is a problem but fortunately,  a waste management program shall soon be put in place in Mbengwi through MINHDU.

The Award Proper

She further appreciated quaters that have been carrying out clean up campaigns and road maintenance works like Mile 18, Muswe and the villages that worked on the Mile 20 - Njindom - Mbemi stretch of road. This goes in line with the new council plan of action  to focus on local solutions to solving local problems. She encouraged quarters and villages to notify the council each time they're carrying out such community works. 

Discussions went sour when the aging councillor Anapa Isaac of Njaah openly told the mayor "For six years that we've been here,  I cannot remember anything that this council has done for the area where I come from.  I've spent six wasted years here in the council. If not of what we had from the central ainistratiom,  I would've been going back empty handed at the end of mandate" Even when councillor Fonanih Johnas pointed out a 50 millions worth project for Njaah in the upcoming budget,  Councillor Anapa refuted saying its just paper work. The mayor fought back saying development must not be in a particular area before it's appreciated. She cited the recently constructed cattle market in Acha-Tugi as an example of a council project that shall benefit Njaah.

Mayor & Quarter Heads

After the frank discussions,  mayor Tebe Beatrice then presented an award she won for the council. Hear her; "I bring to you this little token granted to us as a result of hard work and assiduity. Three years after the introduction of the PNDP Performance Basket Award as a tool to enhance local development by encouraging councils to maximise their efforts in the decentralisation process,  Mbengwi Council grabbed second position for the N.W region thus bringing home the sum of 50 millions in Mandat and a certificate which I here present" This good news was received with applauds as the mayor then posed for pictures with several constituted personalities present,  carrying her booty in hand. In joy, she told her colleagues "We have actually studied together and my wish is that we all come back together but remember end of mandate is not end of work."

While closing the session,  the S.D.O for Momo, Fouda Etaba Bernoit Nicaise thanked and congratulated the council for the achievement and for being the first within the division to hold it's 2020 budgetary session within the stipulated time. "This budget will be meaningful only if the population of this municipality benefit from it" the supervisory authority cautioned. He encouraged the council executive to ensure that projects to be executed in 2020 are taken from the Council Development Plan. "As concerns other preoccupations raised by the councillors,  we should all bear with me that because of the present insecurity,  many projects aren't ongoing or have been stopped. Our children are causing the under development of this municipality by this insecurity" the S.D.O ended.

Mayor & Friends

This was the last session held by councillors of the Mbengwi council as come February 9th 2019, Cameroonian's shall be going to the poles to vote  new councillors and parliamentarians. In the past,  council elections were highly animated in Mbengwi but with the current situation of insecurity it's still unclear how aspirants will go about campaigning. Separatist fighters commonly known as Amba Boys are said to have banned anything in the form of elections in Anglophone Cameroon and have promised to kidnap any aspirant that defies their order.

"We Can't Complete Dev't in Mbengwi Council in 6 Years, Give Us More Time" - Mayor Tebe

"We Can't Complete Dev't in Mbengwi Council in 6 Years, Give Us More Time" -  Mayor Tebe Beatrice

The mayor of the Mbengwi Council, Madam Tebe Beatrice has requested for a mandate extension to enable her complete the realisation of projects she envisaged for the council. She was speaking on Wednesday November 13th 2019 in her office after the holding of the Mbengwi Council 2020 Budgetary Session. In an interview granted Mbengwi Online,  the mayor revealed the success story of her mandate and why she deserves another, this after presenting a 50 million award from PNDP to her councillors. Follow us. 

N.B: M.O - Mbengwi Online

         M.C - Mbengwi Council 

Tebe Beatrice, Mayor,  Mbengwi Council

M.O: Congratulations on your award. Can you present it to us?

M.C Mayor: Thank you very much. I just presented the PNDP performance Basket Award that we, the Mbengwi Council were awarded by PNDP and MINEPAT to local councils in the light of exhibiting the decentralisation program. It is just to urge councils to do better,  to keep good records, to organise their work according to laid down rules and to ensure effective implementation of the decentralisation process. Mbengwi Council was among the councils that participated in the N.W region and so we are lucky to receive this second prize for the region which is worth 50.000.000F of project.

M.O: Is it cash? 

M.C Mayor: It's not cash. What we brought home was a Mandat and a certificate to that effect. We will have to come out with a project in order to consume the money. You know that PNDP deals with community projects and will not feel comfortable giving direct cash but never the less,  the project we are soliciting is to continue improving on our security through solar energy street lights because when we had the first few from the female mayor's group,  there was a lot of complains for the need to continue improving on our lighting system. So that's the kind of fast project that we can be able to execute before the year runs out. 

M.O: Looking at the current situation,  one will say the M.C is faced with a lot of challenges especially the sociopolitical crisis yet councils that are in Bamenda where there's relative calm couldn't make it through. How did you do it? 

M.C Mayor: Well, you know that if you come into an institution with the zeal to learn,  you'll always be looking forward to overcoming challenges. Mbengwi Council has been one of those councils that has been fairly permanent and stationed and like I said in the council session, we've been carrying out our activities slowly but surely and so we did not relent our efforts when it came to preparing for the performance basket.  It's just the normal council activities,  not something very strange.  It is just being sure that every head of unit carries out what it's supposed to do and puts them in records and from time to time we have meetings to find out the level of execution of our various activities in the council. Because we've been able to stay put in our council area,  we've been able to achieve those activities that warranted us to excel. 

M.O: Your councillors said the second position isn't enough, that they want the first. How did you take that? 

M.C Mayor: (Laughs) Of course I think that coming second after coming 10th is a big gap that we've overcome. It means that we've learnt a lot of things and surely we are looking forward to becoming the first even if  the mandate is ending. If we are still to be there,  fine. If it'll be others and they seek our advise, we will be able to tell them what it takes to reach the top. 

M.O: Let's go back to the budgetary council session. We noticed that the budget had a slight drop. Any explanation? 

M.C Mayor: Yes the budget had a slight drop because we can no longer collect our local revenue like I mentioned. Therefore our sources of revenue have diminished and it's important to make it appear in the budget. We only rely on government support through FEICOM which is also not very regular and like you said, because it is not regular,  management is so tight, reason why we had to drop the budget a bit in order for us not to explode in a situation we can't manage. Although the budget is an explanation,  we want to work on what we hope to get from the government and if we have anything from local revenue,  then we're only going to add up to the main source. 

M.O: Did you take into consideration the decentralisation package? 

M.C Mayor: Yes of course we did because as of last year,  the decentralisation bundle arrived,  100.000.000 (one hundred million)  as was said and we've also projected it in our budget because we are sure that at least one hundred million will come even though we are canvassing for more. If you really want to execute a realistic project that serves the needs of the people, then 100 million is even small.  Imagine constructing a bridge or building a school. 

M.O: This award has opened M.C to so many partners and they're very interested to come and invest. If there's a particular project that you'll want to see realised, what will that be? 

M.C Mayor: Like you said,  this award has opened M.C to the public,  both nationally and internationally. In fact, while in Yaounde, I had handshakes of congratulations on behalf of M.C and my phone is also full with people canvassing to know more about M.C. If I were to chose a project today,  we are looking forward to improving our solar street lights that can serve anybody moving along the road irrespective of where you're coming from, who you are etc. 

M.O: Can you elaborate on the appeal you made during the session to the boys in the bush concerning project execution? 

M.C Mayor: Our brothers and sisters out there thinking otherwise,  we just want to let them know that the projects that come to us are our projects. We are the beneficiaries. As a mayor, we lobby. It's not only the government that gives us projects. We have projects from partners like PNDP,  HIMO projects etc. So we expect that when we have projects that benefit the common person, that  benefit the person on Ground Zero or the grassroots as we can call it,  they should be able to understand and allow these projects to take place because we are the direct and immediate beneficiaries irrespective of where it is coming from.

M.O: There's the notion that the M.C centralises its development endeavours but according to you, the council has also been carrying out certain achievements out of Mbengwi central which seem not to be known. Can you enlighten us? 

M.C Mayor: We carry out projects out of the central zone of the M.C and as well as within the centre. Before we had this severe crisis, we carried out projects like construction and equipping of G.N.S Njindom, construction of two classrooms in G.T.C Zang Tabi, we did the road Njindom-Sang-Munam and many others. We even did the Bome-Mbengwi-Funam-Tudig road. So we don't only focus on the central zone. We also think that those out there need to be empowered. But you see, it is not us as individuals. We need to go through contractors and when contractors express certain challenges, we have to follow suit because first of all it is important that those projects, whatever they are, are executed and if there are challenges out of the urban zone,  then we need to look at them and reconsider where to place our projects. 

That's why I said that this crisis is like backfiring on us. We are crying for development and when development comes,  we cannot execute it. Look at the cattle market we just constructed in Acha-Tugi, those are the projects that we've placed at distant places, not inside Mbengwi urban space. There are many more that we would've loved to do. We went one time to a Mbororo community to support a water extension project. We would've loved to go to many of such places and make them feel that M.C is for them,  that development is placed at their disposal. Today we're talking about community participation. It is all in effect to make people continue to see that development is in our hands. The government is only supporting us to develop the community where we live,  to improve on our livelihoods. So we are trying to take development everywhere not just in the urban setting but in the periphery.

The 50 millions booty

M.O: After the announcement of the 50 million booty,  there's now this notion where everybody wants the council to come do something in their area since they've heard of the money. They want to hear the mayor address something that will please them.

M.C Mayor: Of course, yes it's true that the 50 million booty is only being announced now but it had been there because the results of this performance had been published since June and we've already made a project proposal so that it goes alongside with the award. So like I said,  we cannot complete development in M.C in six years. They should give us more time. They should see what we have been able to do and they should support us to continue so that we can do more and touch the nukes and corners. At one time we came to put on a milk centre in Medig area,  we asked the community to give us land and there were so many struggles on where to place it but finally we did place it. That is the kind of spirit we want,  that when a project comes,  people really want it. It shows that people are listening to us and people are wanting us to support them and they're urging us to do more.

M.O: Thank you ma

M.C Mayor: Thank you so much.

Note: This interview was conducted by Nji Ignatius of Eden Newspaper and myself FONGOH p. Ayeh of www.mbengwionline.blogspot.com