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.