The Archdiocese of Bamenda has announced that they are
withdrawing from the disputed piece of land at Ndzah. The Archbishop His Grace Fontem
Cornelius Esua made the statement today April 15, 2014 while addressing Christians at
the Mankon Cathedral during a chrism mass. Speaking to Ndeh Richard of Evangelum Radio, His Grace Fontem Cornelius declared that the Bamenda Archdiocese acquired the piece of land after all the necessary steps were taken but when they wanted to develop the piece of land, a group Mbororo led by a certain Achombang attacked workers and destroyed the caterpillar, Archdiocese vehicle and attacked the Director of Lands at the Archdiocese. He said following threats, "if the land is given to us we cannot be there in peace, we have continued to suffer in silence". It should be recalled that this land which was acquired
for the construction of the Catholic University of Cameroon-Bamenda sparked
controversy when members of the Mbororo Community (men, women and children) of
Ndzah stormed the premise of the Bamenda Catholic University to express their hopelessness
in a sit-down strike after houses were demolished on the said piece of land. The
Eye gathered that for the sake of humanity and not to allow some people to drag
the image of the Catholic Church in mud, CATUC decided to withdraw from the
disputed piece of land. The decision by His Grace Fontem Cornelius however has had
diversified interpretations. To some catholic Christians, the decision by the
Bamenda Archdiocese to quit the disputed land is the most previous gift the
church has offered to humanity. Yet to human rights activists, the decision is
late and untimely. Chongsi Joseph Ayeah, Executive Director of Centre for Human
Rights and Peace Advocacy-CHRAPA, says this decision would have been taken
earlier enough not to put the Mbororo Community in depression. He said the
Church should admit the errors committed and should also repair the damages
caused because actually “some people are sleeping in the open air” and homeless.
However, we are still expecting a communiqué from the Bamenda Archdiocese on
this decision which has put an end to the brouhaha between the Bamenda
Archdiocese and the Ndzah Mbororo Community at the Mamada hills.
With us blacks opportunity cost has always been a problem. In any development of an area there must be a price we pay. The Catholic University would have been a break through for Ndzah Village and the Economy of Bamenda at large. We evaluate damage by looking at the future not the past because the seeds we plant today will be harvested tomorrow. What have the Mbororo's of Ndzah village given to Bamenda? Just one favor to change their future and that of Bamenda is too much for them to give. thanks to Mbororo's and their aliens the future is 19th century still in Bamenda.
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