Celebrating World Water Day with Drops of Water

By Fai Cassian Ndi

The 2014 Water Day is being celebrated in many part of Cameroon amidst water scarcity. The situations in major cities like Yaounde, the capital, Douala, the economic capital and Garoua

When Water becomes a scarce commodity

are very pathetic given the growing population. However, in the rural areas, access to potable water has reached crisis level. In some localities, the population goes for weeks and even months without potable water. Donga Mantung Division in the North West Region has been hit by water scarcity. If water as they say is life, then Nkambe and Ndu towns in Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region of Cameroon may perhaps eventually be lifeless. This is so due to the scarcity of water. Since November 2013 up to date, Nkambe, Ndu and Ako towns with the fast growing population have been in water crisis. This wobbly situation is having diversified interpretations. Environmentalists are of the opinion that the scarcity of water has been orchestrated by the changing climate while some development experts on the other hand say it is due to the abusive cultivation of eucalyptus trees in and around water catchments. Yet traditionalists on their part are convinced that the gods are angry. It is common to see a traditional ruler pouring libation at a stream calling on the gods to bring back water. The situation is such that taps regularly run dry; some small springs have dried off while others have lost their sizes. Water has been tagged as a rare commodity given that to get water especially at this period of the year is as complicated as a journey to Mars. Access to water is a major predicament and gradually it has reached a crisis level.

In Ndu town, the council has adopted rationing strategies with the Ndu Water Authority to meet up with the pressing water problems. Talking to this reporter, the Mayor of Ndu Council Bunyui Emmanuel Nyugap says apart from the fact that water is now rationed in Ndu town, the council has also embarked on mitigating the crisis to avoid any out break of water borne diseases. The population he said is being sensitized and it is an ongoing process. He also mentioned that the council has also embarked on the eradication of eucalyptus trees in and around water catchments and in the months ahead Ndu council intends to construct an additional water pumping station as an immediate package aimed at providing a temporary solution to the crisis. He also observed that there is an urgent need to empower the rural communities on the sustainable natural resource management.

In Nkambe, the situation is becoming very precarious. Former mayor of Nkambe, Mangoh Jones says from 2010 to 2013, the council eradicated over 20.000 eucalyptus trees in and around and has planted over 32.000 environmental friendly trees at the main water catchmentwith support from the Ministry of Forestry and Faiuna, Mangoh Jones. Nkambe town has three watersheds, but they have been invaded by eucalyptus trees. Mangoh Jones Tanko said that the first water crisis emerged in 1999, when the population of Nkambe town went for almost two months without potable water. “Last year, the council supported the communities of Binju, Ngwanyuh and Mansoh to construct some springs that could serve these quarters during the months of January, February and March but it is pathetic that the springs usually run dry due to severe harshness of the dry season”.   

He observed that the situation is very critical as families move over 10-20 km everyday to get water. He blamed the population for setting watersheds on fire as well as the abusive planting of eucalyptus trees in and around water catchments. It should be noted that more than 85% of all the water catchments in Donga Mantung and Bui are invaded by eucalyptus trees. Experts say a mature eucalyptus tree consumes a minimum of 400 liters of water per day. Besides, if there are still little drops of water in Nkambe town, it is thanks to Mangoh Jones Tanko the former mayor of Nkambe who took the challenge to launch a fierce less war by replacing eucalyptus in water catchments. Yet, approximately half of the trees planted were all consumed by bushfire this year. To cut the story short, indicators are rife that more than 92% of the watersheds usually get dry during dry season. Some of the streams even dry off completely. It is common to see children digging at the watersheds to find water.  Uncertainty looms large as it is feared that this could lead to an outbreak of cholera or increasing water borne diseases. Of late, it has been observed that the number of typhoid cases in Ndu and Nkambe have increased geometrically. Farmers on the other hand have been complaining that weather patterns have changed and it is resulting to poor crop yields. Yet the same farmers hardly keep to the instructions of avoiding “slatch and burnt” commonly known as “ankara” in their farms. Cattle grazers on the other hand for wanting fresh grass for their cattle have gone on a periodic folly of setting the bushes on fire. 

In Ako, Hon. Abe Michael is of the opinion that it is the deforestation of the Mbembe forest that is producing the negative effects. And that the water scheme in the town needs to be reconstructed.

Hon. Awudu Mbaya Gives Hope

Hon. Awudu Mbaya, Questor at the National Assembly and Executive President of Pan African Parliamentarians Network on Climate Change says there are prospects that by next year the situation will be better. According to Hon. Awudu Mbaya, he has lobbied and obtained some funding to improve on access to potable water in the three municipalities. He revealed that 120 boreholes (stand-taps) will be provided for the three council areas by the end of 2014. The borehole (stand-taps) will reach the needy villages as well. “Technicians are just back from the field where they conducted surveys in all the selected villages and spots in the various towns. Each municipality, he added will benefit from 40 boreholes. This according to Hon. Awudu is part of his strategy to improve access to water in the Division. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

100 Days of Ngabir Paul as Mayor Nkambe: Will the Population Regret Choice of Mayor?

On March 24, 2014, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement-CPDM in Nkambe will be celebrating the 29^th Anniversary of the birth of the party. One of the key points of that celebration will be the speech of the mayor of Nkambe council, Ngabir Paul Bantar. It is expected that the CPDM mayor of Nkambe will give a clear balance sheet of his 100 days in office. This is so because the first 100 days of the mayor are very crucial given that he is the guarantor of development. Yet speculations as to what Ngabir Paul Bantar, CPDM mayor for Nkambe will give as his balance sheet abound high. During the September 30, 2013 Municipal Elections, the CPDM made some political pledges amongst which were the improvement of access to water in Nkambe town, the putting in place of street lights, the construction of the Nkambe main market just to name the few.

Expectedly, the population of the municipality and especially Nkambe town have been looking forth to the CPDM mayor to swing into action immediately if not set the pace during the first 100 days. Whether this has been the case or not remains another mystery that only the mayor, his deputies and councilors will tell the population. From what we observed, Nkambe town is still begging and waiting for the day that it main street shall get the taste of the political promise. As for the issue of water, access to potable water in Nkambe town is entering record books as the population would go for days without little drops. As for the Nkambe market, it is seemingly begging for a municipal clemency. The question which abound high in the lips of everyone in the municipality is whether the mayor would make another promise. But will Ngabir Paul Bantar even care to justify to the population why the sing-song slogan of electrifying streets in Nkambe could not happen within his first 100 days? Will he also care to tell the population why he has not been able to hold just a single staff meeting with council workers, just for acquaintance sake? And what will he tell those who have submitted documents for recruitment at the Nkambe council on grounds that they too need compensation for political leniency as well as the drivers who refused to pay council levies on purely political grounds. These and more other questions will find an answer on March 24^th when the mayor of Nkambe will present his balance sheet. A suirve

(Coming Up: Untold Facts about Ngabir’s 100 Days at the Helm of Nkambe Council and Population Rating of his First 100 Days)

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Chantier Naval: Antoine Bikoro Sacked

History, they say repeat itself in strange ways. The real Chantier Naval which Forjindam left behind is a shattered dream today. When Antoine Bikoro like a poker player arrived Chantier Naval, the place was booming. He thought he would play the poker to defeat the long established conventional wisdom that the same causes produce same effects as well as eradicate the fact that those who destroy others in order to rise will meet the same fate at their destinations. But little did he know that poker is a funny game. You can be winning all night long and then comes the final time. You get overconfident, so you bet the pot on four kings. It is virtually a sure winner, like Bikoro you tell yourself. Suddenly, the dealer smiles at you and says he wants another card. Right before your eyes he draws a card from the bottom of the deck and lays his hands on the table: four aces. Antoine Bikoro, the man considered as the brain behind the anarchic arrest of Zacheusse Forjindam has lost his shirt at Chantier Naval. Antoine Bikoro Alo’o who thought he would bet on four kings in the Chantier Naval poker house has finally resigned himself to the four aces. This is so because in the Chantier Naval poker when he thought that pot was at stake that was when the rules went out through the window. Remember that Antoine Bikoro Alo’o appeared in Chantier Naval like a rock star. But his poor managerial skills left him in the midst of the game he thought he could mastermind. The only rules that remained were those hunting him which was no rules at all. Bikoro has been topped with four king aces, which he could not pull from the bottom of the deck. It is no more news that last week, he was sacked but as to what treatment he deserves, classified sources say government is preparing to tell him sooner or later that in poker, the sheriff is own by the state. Which way takes him either to Kondengui or New Bell.

While some high profile prisoners recently graduated from the Kondengui and New Bell prisons thanks to the Presidential clemency, the doors of these prisons have been flanked open to receive new inmates. It is uncertain that one of those who New Bell awaits is Antoine Bikoro, a classified source at the Presidency hinted. It should be noted that Biya recently decided to stop the cacophony at Chantier Naval. When he pulled a sheriff on Antoine Bikoro, he appointed a foreigner at the helm yet it did not work. Finally, he has flanked the door open for Bikoro to quit the poker house (declaring the game over) and putting in two other Cameroonians to make an attempt to rescue the sinking ship. The problem at Chantier Naval started on May 27, 2008 which Bikoro pulled a fast one on Forjindam. Forjindam was dismissed, arrested and was later sentenced with his belongings confiscated. The early morning poker player was catapulted and hailed by workers. But this was short lived. Barely few months, workers were already on strike. Revenue started dwindling and President suspected something ugly and appointed Korean Moon Kwi-Ho General Manager Delegate. Ceaseless strikes could not permit Moon to produce the expected results. Two years after, another Korean by name Seoung Rok was appointed. After witnessing three workers stikes, Rok resigned abrely a year after. As a remedy, President Biya a week ago appointed two Cameroonians to lord over Chantier Naval. Bernard Biyaha’a cadre at SNH and Roland Maxin, another cadre at MINEPAT are the ones to manage the structure. By the appointment, Biya also dismissed the almighty Antoine Bikoro. News about Bikoro meeting Forjindam who he plotted his down-fall looms large. But would he apologize to Forjindam?

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Meet Eldad Umenjoh 2014 2degrees Champions Awards Nominee

Eldad Umenjoh hails from Ngie in the North West Region of Cameroon where palm oil production is one of the most reliable source of income to approximately 85% of the population. Being a young man who knows the importance of "black gold" palm oil as it is commonly known, Eldad started building the capacity of youths and women in sustainable management of natural resources. As environment advisor to the Anjong Young Farmers Group, he introduced a program to change the mindset and the attitude of farmers to learn best sustainable environmental practices in production, processing and transformation of palm oil and its by-products. As a matter of fact, Eldad believes that the peasant farmers in Bonambufie village could increase their income if they practice clean production of palm oil from durra wild palm trees. He says oil palm production could be professionalized through sustainable management of palm oil by product by instilling zero waste natural resources management of palm oil waste products. This particularly measures he says will generate eco-friendly by-products such as animal feed and soap, bio diesel and organic manure, from oil palm kernels which are wasted.

Why You Need to Give him Your Votes

The overall benefit is that by voting this project, it will improve on the quality of palm oil being produced both qualitatively and quantitatively. It will produce a spillover effect in the community given that it will lead to the putting in place of practices that will sustain the natural environment. Your vote will equally stand the taste of contributing significantly to improve the livelihood of the rural poor.

The income of farmers the other members of the communities increases, beside that they spend less on energy because they making use of manual mechanical hand presses for production of palm oil. These mechanical hand presses are environmentally-friendly because they do not use energy and are pollution-free besides clean air, less encroachment into the forest by farmer, more endangered species of trees and flora and fauna protected.


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Breaking News: Possible Debris from Missing Malaysian Airliner Captured

Satellite image released by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority shows possible debris from missing Malaysian jet'. According to latest information that debris were located about 1,400 miles off the coast of Perth. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Bamenda II Council: Obnoxious Plans by Outside Agitators Against Mayor Balick Unmasked

By Baweson Ndi

Mayor Balick Awah victim of blackmail or political anarchy?

Thomas Hobbes, the 17^th Century English Philosopher in his classical work Lorianthan wrote that whenever a city is caught between the evil of people who do bad for the sake of it, it results to hatred and victimization. In such a situation Thomas Hobbes emphasized that men will spare at nothing to give a dark impression of others creating a “state of nature” where everyone is enemy to every person. “There is no place for growth because the fruit thereof is uncertain and consequently no culture of the earth, nastiness and worst of all, fear, poverty, character assassination and terror” he lamented. Hobbes who at the time of his writing was more concerned with the chaos human behavior would create to destroy others believed that it is the duty of the state to intervene in order to curb Frankenstein monsters –like from ruining society.

Bridge allegedly not back-filled yet this picture shows that the job was completed

I do not know whether the Bamenda II council area where Balick Awah Fidelis is a perfect Hobbesian jungle, it is probably the closest description to it that exists in Cameroon.  Funny municipality! But what lesson of this? Almost certainly, the onslaught backstabbing to assassinate the character of Mayor Balik Awah Fidelis can only be captured through his trappings that have gave his detractors sleepless nights. While today the word Balick evokes images of a transformed Bamenda II municipality, something quite different and something almost honest and gentle, his political detractors have swung into action inviting CONAC. The spirit of honesty that was applauded by FEICOM Director recently given the mayor’s efforts of putting in place a befitting council hall for Bamenda II could be seen as the bone of contention. Yet the man who is governed by the Levantine spirit of Mankon and nation building is being backstabbed simply because he ignored the call that men could be broken from others. This is Bamenda II municipality at its best-a plural society where a group of misguided individuals want to excel in the trade of backstabbing and blackmail. While Mayor Balick is working hard for the municipality to grow and jointly emerge with Cameroon by 2035, prophets of doom “outside agitators alias petition writers" wielding the butchering knife want to take him from behind. “Whenever I think of the trappings of our mayor, I am reminded of the improvement of the road network in the municipality. But what I read in a newspaper on an alleged complain to CONAC about the roads we praised our mayor severally during council sittings was shocking. I am tempted to say that it is a form of political sabotage that we need to chisel out from under the scar” remarked a councilor of the Bamenda II Council. It is said that some men are born to time that they cannot change. Ironically, Balick Awah Fidelis from what we gathered from the inhabitants of Bamenda II council is a good man born in a very bad neigbourhood. In fact, an optimistic soul born to a bad time which is characterized by backstabbing and blackmail which he (himself) cannot change. Yet his optimism towards society has been directed towards his work as Mayor of Bamenda II Council in the city of version. Yet, a visit to some of the projects which the mayor’s detractors described as uncompleted portrayed that the present state of nature has transformed the municipality into weed and not flower. Give it just the slightest ray of sunshine and the thinnest drop of water like what Mayor Balick is doing and it will shoot up and multiply between the cracks of Bamenda rubbles.

Ntatru road (mile 8 mkt) road well graded

The Eye is aware that all the road rehabilitation projects in the Bamenda II municipality were a resounding success. A newspaper report insinuating the CONAC has been invited to investigate the rehabilitation of some roads in Bamenda II was an embarrassment to the inhabitants. Allegedly, Bamenda II mayor had received congratulatory messages from various quarters including the management of Step by Step (Step by Step-Matgenie road) for rehabilitating their road. In our investigation, we visited the Musang-Mankon road, Ntatru-Mankon, Backfilled Bridge behind Radio Hot Cocoa and Nitop I neigbourhood. The most intriguing thing is that the purported complaint against Balick Awah indicates that the mayor had issued fake contracts to fake companies that exist only on paper. This is intriguing because fake companies don’t execute contracts yet the same complaint indicates that some of the projects were not completed. The question therefore of fake is nullified.  However, all attempts to get to the mayor for his own side of the untold story were fruitless. Yet The Eye gathered from reliable sources that Mayor Balick is a victim of the Mbachongwa factor and seemingly scape-goated on grounds that he is a stumbling block to the emergence of the Mbachongwa council reasons why the scheming has resurfaced after the first attempt flopped woefully. It is even alleged that during the senatorial election, a politician in Bamenda II (name withheld) stormed the council to check in proxy by one councilor who had flown out of the country. The same fellow was already on treetops accusing Balick Awah of fake signature etc. It is also aired that the false alarm was raised by a handful of petition writers who see nothing good in any thing except in the form of bread on their own tables.

The Bamenda II council as indicated has been transformed by outside agitators into a sinkhole of character assassination. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

You Are the Winner, Here is the Secret

It is no more news that The Eye Newspaper is Finalists of the 14th Annual Weblog Awards, Bloggies 2014. In fact our success story depends on you. As a matter of fact for The Eye Newspaper blog to emerge winner, we kindly solicit your votes. It is a very simple process. Just follow these steps to vote your favourite Weblog (The Eye Newspaper) Your Vote is what will make the Difference.
Well, here are 7 easy steps. It takes just 2mins to cast a vote.
1. Go to the Bloggies Website:  http://2014.bloggi.es
2. Scroll toward a bit to Best African Weblog.

3. Find the “The Eye Newspaper" blog
4. Click on the small round grey box at the bottom right of the thumbnail.
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, fill the form summit your email
6. Check your email
7. Confirm vote

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Missing Airliner’s Route Reportedly Changed by Computer Entry

A new report suggests the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 made its first off-course turn to the west after a heading change was entered into the aircraft’s flight computer, a move that requires advanced knowledge of the plane’s flight systems

The New York Times has revealed that the missing Malaysia Airlines airliner first deviated from its set flight path following an entry into its flight computer, according to a new report.

The New York Times, citing “senior American officials,” reports Flight MH370’s first unexpected turn to the west was made “through a computer system” in the aircraft’s cockpit. That revelation is significant because changing the aircraft’s route via the flight computer requires a more intimate understanding of the Boeing 777’s flight systems than manually manipulating the control yoke to change heading.

According to The New York Times, commercial jets and other large aircraft typically travel the skies via a system of waypoints, each identified by a five-character code. Those waypoints are manually entered into an aircraft’s flight computer so the airplane’s autopilot system can fly the desired route. Pilots can insert new waypoints into an aircraft’s flight computer to change the aircraft’s course midflight if asked to do so by an air-traffic controller or for other reasons.

The Times report suggests that someone on board the aircraft did indeed enter a new waypoint into Flight MH370’s computer. However, it remains unclear whether the waypoint change was made before or after the flight began.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that data from the aircraft indicated “someone made a manual change in the plane’s direction.” That report, though, didn’t specify whether someone on board the plane had made a change in the aircraft’s flight computer or used the aircraft’s yoke to change its direction.

Flight MH370 has been missing since disappearing from radar screens on March 8, triggering a huge search operation that currently involves 26 nations. Many theories have been considered to explain why the plane would go so drastically off course in the absence of much solid evidence.

Courtesy: The New York Times

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

The Eye Newspaper is Finalist of 2014 Bloggies Awards

The unexpected but not hidden breaking news is that The Eye Newspaper has been voted

as one of the five finalists for the Best African Weblog in this year’s 14^th Annual Weblog Awards. In fact it is with joy and ecstasy that we are breaking the news. That The Eye Newspaper is finalists in outstanding GLOBAL contest is indicative that little drops of water can make an ocean. When we got the breaking news yesterday, emotions were high that The Eye Newspaper could emerge among the Best Five African Weblog of the year. This is so due to the fact that this weblog which started just two years back is already attracting global admiration and recognition. The success story is not only ours at the level of The Eye newspaper. It is thanks to you out there who nominated us, who voted us and who will still vote us to emerge victorious. And it is thanks to you all who have been visiting our weblog on daily basis and making critical contributions. You have made us proud and we are proud of you as well.

This is not only a locomotive to the little we have been doing for the past two years to inform the world on happenings but a  steam which indicates that there are people out there who have been watching us on the web. The stumbling block as you all know is that access to internet is not a given in Cameroon. We had to sacrifice our little earnings to keep our readers connected.  As voting continues, we look forth to your support and votes which could make us emerge winner.

However, it should be noted that winners will be announced on Monday, March 31 from 8:00-10:30 pm EST (UTC-5) on the bloggies’ Twitter feed and Facebook Page. For more information go to the Bloggies Website: http://2014.bloggi.es

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Camasej North West: The Tale of Money Teller Machine Hook by Old Banknotes

By Fai Cassian Ndi

Choves Loh                                       Comfort Musa

The North West Chapter of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists-CAMASEJ, a one-time enviable and vibrant journalist’s association is wallowing in the gutter and in self skirmishes. Last weekend, the unknown but not hidden agenda to revive that association emerged like the Levantine spirit to push aside the Comfort Musa led Executive. Whether the Comfort Musa led executive has failed or whether it was the presence of the same Levantine spirit that could not allow them to excel remains another question that could only be deciphered by psychologists. The story is seemingly that of a money teller machine hooked by the presence of old banknotes. The truth is that CAMASEJ North West contentiously sang into the doldrums. Everyone saw it going yet nobody was complaining. Obviously, CAMASEJ National President Tricia Oben was aware that the association had lost its dynamics yet she was mute. 

However, if there is one sentiment that tied together everything the Musa Comfort led executive did right in CAMASEJ North West and everything they did wrong, it was the naïve, innocent optimism. It showed itself right from the beginning when they inherited an epileptic association from the Tanteh Vitalis led executive where Comfort Musa was formerly Secretary General. Yet none of them had the inkling of how soon they would put back the one-time dynamic association on rail. Collective interest turned individuals. Group dynamics was eclipsed. The rationale was then formulated over seminars and who would attend and who would not as well as media coverage. The last song that the Wimbum mafia took CAMASEJ hostage died naturally and new claims of emerged from the wilderness. Those who could have advised were on treetops castigating how the association was bestowed into the hands of a little school girl. But who take the blame? Everybody!!! The failure of CAMASEJ old brooms to look into the mirror of time rapidly remains another pulse that hooked the machine. 

The impulse underlying the muscular intervention of Choves Loh and others to revamp the epileptic association is quintessential given that the action came out of something very deep in the psyche of the die-hard members. The impressive turnout at last CAMASEJ meeting indicated a can-do optimism hanging on the face of Choves Loh who had the conviction that every problem has a solution if people will just be reasonable, some sort of a normalization strategy by Choves Loh, National Vice President of CAMASEJ. Having stepped into CAMASEJ with the conviction that everything was possible and everything made sense, Comfort Musa and Co may hence be wise enough to understand that in CAMASEJ nothing was possible and nothing made sense. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Breaking News: Malaysian Plane Crashed in the Golf of Bengal (Sentinel)?

Could the mystery surrounding flight MH 370 of the Malaysia Airlines finally be solved? This is the question many have been asking ever since information started circulating on the net that some satellite images pinpoint an explosion on the Island of Sentinel in the Bay of Bengal.  According to the latest information, the Indian authorities have stopped research while according to satellite images; there would have been a big explosion in the Sentinel Island in the Golf of Bengal, India. Allegedly, a huge fire ensued which indicates it could have been the plane. The question is whether it was a plane crash or something else. What was it?

Sentinel Island, located in the Golf of Bengal, has everything a paradise: turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, lush vegetation ... However, this land is one of the most dangerous in the world, and anyone who has tried to set foot there almost died. For the people who live there, nothing is welcoming and will do anything to keep her unspoiled island. It is alleged those who live there are blacks who still move naked and they are not welcoming to strangers. It (the population) could have been consumed survivors as they are considered a cannibal.

The mysterious disappearance of flight MH370 Malaysia Airlines causes chronic molt. Indeed, four days after the disappearance of flight MH370 patent is approved by the Patent Office. 4 of 5 individuals of the patent holders are employees of Freescale Semiconductor in Austin, Texas. The patent has been divided into 5 parts of 20% for each holder, the broken-down is as follows:

Peidong Wang, Suzhou, China (20%)

Chen Zhijun , Suzhou , China ( 20%)

Zhihong Chen, Suzhou, China (20%)

Li Ying, Suzhou, China (20%)

Freescale Semiconductor, United States (20%)

Between the argument that the aircraft has been hijacked or taken away by a giant UFO seems not to be tenable at all. The world is now left with one option, which is the island of Sentinel. But who has the courage to go there, unless it is an army that will fight fiercely or destroy all its inhabitants, to approach the wreckage of the plane?

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

SOCAM Saga: Supreme Court Vindicates Ama Tutu Muna

Ama Tutu Muna

The tussle as to who is the Board Chair of Cameroon Music Corporation SOCAM has partially been laid to rest. This is so because the lawsuit filed by ace Musician Ndedi Eyango requesting on the Supreme Court to overrule a decision by Arts and Culture Minister rejecting his election as Board Chairman of SOCAM was thrown out of court. The decision which many thought would quench the brouhaha between Arts and Culture Minister Ama Tutu Muna, and ace Cameroonian born musician Ndedi Eyango is seemingly a partial antidote to the crisis. Purportedly, Ndedi Eyango’s lawyers have vowed that they will not take the decision down low. Classified sources hinted at weekend that Ndedi Eyango has also vowed that the matter is yet from over. Allegedly Ndedi Eyango says he will seize the competent jurisdiction that has the competence to hear the matter pertaining to nationality. It should be recalled that Ndedi Eyango was voted Board chair of SOCAM in November but on December 23, 2013, Ama Muna signed a decision in which she declared Ndedi Eyango was not a Cameroonian. Yet, Ndedi Eyango hammered that Ama Tutu Muna did not have the loco standi on his nationality. Minister Ama Muna went ahead to set up a normalization Committee headed by San Fan Thomas. Since then, dark clouds have been hanging over who is the Board chair of SOCAM. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

That Landmark Speech by PACJA SG at 2014 Accer Awards Launching

SPEECH DELIVERED BY MITHIKA MWENDA- SECRETARY GENERAL, PAN AFRICAN CLIMATE JUSTICE ALLIANCE (PACJA) DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE 2014 ACCER AWARDS MARCH 9, 2014

INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL, NAIROBI –KENYA

All protocols observed!

It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you to the 2014 launching of the African Climate Change and Environmental Reporting (ACCER) Awards today in the environmental capital city of the word –Nairobi.

As you may know, the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), a continental coalition of over 500 civil society Organizations in the African continent, brought together by common goal of promoting and advocating for climate-friendly and equity-based development. The Alliance Draws its members from Non-governmental organizations, Foundations, Trusts, Community-based organizations, faith-based networks, national coalitions and regional networks from 45 countries in Africa.

Although Africa contributes negligibly to the phenomenon of Climate Change accounting for less than 3% of the World’s greenhouse gas emissions, her People however continue to suffer the most from the consequences of Climate Change. Food insecurity, scarcity of water, land denudation often resulting to landslides, destruction of wetland ecosystems and human wildlife

conflict amongst others have not only led to overall environmental crisis, but also culminated to starvation and death.

A major environmental and sustainable development problem, climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions. But since it is also a local phenomenon, interventions to cope with climate change impacts require that all stakeholders are fully engaged at local, national and regional levels.

Africa is a "vulnerability hot spot" for climate change, with limited adaptive capacity due to high levels of poverty (IPCC, 2013). With two degrees of warming, total crop production could be reduced by 10 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the undernourished population could increase by at least 25 per cent by 2050 (World Bank, 2013). If warming exceeds three degrees, virtually all of the present maize, millet and sorghum cropping areas across Africa could become unviable (Schaeffer et al. 2013b). Sub-Saharan Africa's greatest adaptation needs include water supply, coastal zone protection, infrastructure and agriculture.

With these glaring evidences, the need to involve all stakeholders and especially African journalists in writing, reporting and telling the African narrative of climate change can never be over-emphasised.

Time will fail me to give you the detail background of ACCER Awards but permit me to just give you a brief of the journey of this one out of several PACJA’s great initiatives since inception as the basis for our gathering today.

The ACCER awards in their second year are an initiative of PACJA and partners. ACCER is therefore purposed at rewarding exemplary reporting on Climate Change and Environment in Africa. As a first step in this direction PACJA has demonstrated this commitment by undertaking training workshops for Journalists in Africa on Climate Change.

Effective and sufficient reporting on Climate Change and Environment will have the overall effect of galvanizing voices at the grassroots communities, local Governments, the National, Continental and International levels.

Objectives of ACCER Award

To bring out and propagate “African narrative” on climate change in international climate change and sustainable development debates

2. To motivate Journalists and media houses in Africa to effectively cover and report on Climate Change and environment

3. To illuminate innovative best-practice approaches both in Policy and Practice towards response strategies and programmes.

4. To enhance proactive media participation in African climate change discourses with a view of perspectives and narratives.

5. To sustain and boost coverage of Climate Change issues by Journalists in the mainstream media.

6. To promote and create awareness about opportunities existing green investment both in public and private realm.

Criteria

Identification of recipient of the awards will be through a mass public-driven and interactive process and an independent panel of eminent professionals will carefully review the various nominations to determine deserving winners.

Selection Process

Potential awardees will present direct entries with brief citations demonstrating how their journalism may have practically enhanced access to information delivery in a specified area. An independent panel of judges carefully selected will review the entries and make a decision on the winners and runners up for each award category.

The judges will have the final word on who is to be awarded for each category.

As we launch the 2014 ACCER Awards today as a build up to announcement earlier made in Dakar, Senegal last month, this has officially draw the curtain open for entries into the competition by African journalists. The entry will run until May 15, 2014 when it shall officially

close for the judges to commence their work of screening and selection of the award winning entries.

Distinguished dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen of the press, permit me to leap-frog here and welcome you to the ACCER Awards and Gala Nights expected to recognize outstanding climate change and environmental journalists across Africa who will have scooped various Awards in a vigorous competition sponsored by PACJA and its partners. The event will be graced by over 190 world leaders on the 22nd of June, 2014 on the sideline of the first ever United Nations Environmental Assembly here in Nairobi, Kenya.

Once again, thank you for honoring our invitation and I thank you all for your kind attention.

-END-
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For more Info: www.pacja.org
Twitter: @pacja1

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Hon. Awudu Mbaya Catapulted

By Haruna Mohammadou

Hon. Awudu Mbaya receiving  ancestral blessings

There was euphoria and seventh heaven at the Mbot Palace in the presence of SDF National Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi who was flanked by the Lamido of Ngandal (Ngoundere). The moment was reserved to give honourable blessing to a man of honour, Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian for being a development catalyst for the people of Donga Mantung Division. Trumpet blast there was and singing and dancing too.

When HRH Fon Mbunwe II of Mbot, Warr Clan head, took to the rostrum to perform the traditional rite, there was total silence in the courtyard except for the lone bird that was singing an appreciative note from the near by forest. The Fon of Mbot expressed gratitude to the National Chairman of the SDF for the trust that he had given to one of his subjects, Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian. He said that in his capacity as the head of the Warr people in Donga Mantung Division, he (the fon of Mbot) was performing an act of recognition as prescribed by the ancestors stating that the royal blessing that he will give to Hon. Awudu Mbaya is in line with the ancestral belief and command.

“Your forehead will shine and when you hit your toe on a stone, let the stone be destroyed”. After a call the ancestral line, and requesting for the protection, he moved forth to bless Hon. Awudu Mbaya. Touched by the magnitude of the power of the ancestors, the Fon of Mbot also blessed Hon. Esther Ngala Ntala, Mayor Njong Donatus, Bunyui Emmanuel (Mayor of Ndu), Dr. Tandap (NEC Member), The District Chairman for Kumbo, Pa Atekwana, Mangoh Jones Tanko, Nfor Balerie, Hilary Manjong and others.

Speaking on behalf of Warr elite at that grandiose Mangoh Jones Tanko thanked Ni John Fru and the SDF party for raising Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian. Former Mayor of Nkambe also said that in the past Donga Mantung Division has had very noisy politicians yet non them never did what Hon. Awudu has done for the

Awudu Mbaya receiving royal blessing

Division and continues to do for the Division. More so, Mangoh Jones also said that no Parliamentarian in the Division has never ever been raised to the post of Questor at the National Assembly except Hon. Awudu Mbaya. As history teacher, Mangoh Jones Tanko said that the Mbot people were the first that migrated to the Nkambe plateau. Founded around the 16^th century by Manikho who was a healer later extended to be what is today known as the Warr Clan. He said Manikho did not hesitate to give any of young family member’s autonomy as soon as his families grow. More so, the Warr people bloodline extends to Bum village in Bum Sub Division, Nkor in Noni sub Division and Kumbo (Fai Ndzemdzen). He said that historically, the Warr people were the first group to settle in the Nkambe plateau. Politically, Mangoh Jones also revealed the fon of Mbot was the first traditional ruler in Donga Mantung Division to go to the House of Chiefs of the then West Cameroon.  

Ni John Fru Ndi, said he was touched by the fact that the Warr people have kept their traditional values in tact. He said that he would stand against anyone that wants to destroy the grassfeild tradition. “It is part of us, our identity and our culture”. SDF Chieftain lamented if during that occasion he was in his usual traditional regalia, it is because some traditional rulers have been accomplices in destroying our tradition. “We did not make them fons to crown others fon of fons”, SDF chairman concluded. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

58 Years Old Man Takes Away His Own Life by Hanging

By Tamngwa Marcel

The population of Mbipgo village in Ndu sub Division is contemplating on what might have happened that a man of 58 years old had to commit a sacrilege in their village. It was on March 9, 2013 that the entire village was grounded as a man whose name we got as Njeba Genesis took away his own life. Njeba Genesis whom many a villager described as calm and lover of children was on that faithful day spotted entering into an abandoned building. Children who spotted him had no idea of his plan. Yet the children had noticed that for once, Njeba Genesis hadn’t responded to their greetings. When the brother was alerted, he rushed to the abandoned building, forced the door and what he saw was an unbelievable scene. The man had committed suicide by hanging. The brother immediately cut the robe with the hope of rescuing the brother who had hanged just few minutes later, but his action was late to bring back the 58 years old man. Those who watched this unfortunate happening are still wondering what might have pushed Njeba Genesis to take away his own life his wife and family in pains and disgrace. A school of thought holds that the old man a result of his early commitments. This is so because family sources say he had no misunderstanding with any of his family members. As to what must have annoyed him to commit such an act remains a mystery. However, at atmosphere of frustration looms large in Mbipgo village as the services of a traditional doctor were needed for the corpse to be buried. It should be noted that in the tradition of the (Wi)Mbum people, such corpses must be buried far off from the residential area and it was not different in this situation. 

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Thousands Pay Last Homage to Pa Takang Jerome at Babadjou

Pa Takang Jerome

 Family members, friends and well-wishers storm Balepo in Babadjou on March 1, 2014 to pay last homage to the departed family member, friend and father. Born in 1932 at Babadjou in the Bamboutous Division of the West Region of Cameroon, Pa Takang Jerome was the 5^th child in a family of six.

At 17, Pa Takang left his village to the neigbouring Santa where he set up a small business. Few years later, with the help of his elder brother, he moved to Bamenda where he continued in business. By 1957, he was already an international trader who would move to Onitsha in Nigeria to buy goods. He later changed into construction material and was one of the main suppliers of products like soap, rice and sugar. When in 1990 during the construction of the Bamenda Commercial Avenue, his shop was destroyed and he decided to enter into the transport sector. Things didn’t work the way he thought, and he had to enter into a joint venture with one of his daughters to commercialize red oil. With the experience he gathered from the time he started his small business with a sum of “2 shere”, Pa Jerome grabbed the opportunity and suddenly became the biggest distributor in the North West Region and extended his activities to part of the West Region, notably Mbouda, Babadjou and Bangang. When in 1997, he developed sight problems, incapacitate by sight problems, in November 2000, Pa Jerome Takang left his compound in Bamenda for Babadjou. While in the village, he was an encyclopedia to the young as well as the old. On February 5, 2014 Pa Takang passed unto Glory after having accomplished his mission on earth. He was the successor to his father and during his lifetime, he successfully ruled a family of fourteen widows and seventy-five children. He was married to three wives and had 8 children, 16 grand children and few great grand children.    

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I will Spend my Last Blood to Fight for Anglophones-Fru Ndi

By Fai Cassian Ndi

Fru Ndi addressing the crowd at Mbot Palace

The chairman of the leading opposition in Cameroon has declared that he will spend the last blood of his life to fight for the Anglophones. Ni John Fru Ndi, chairman of the Social Democratic Front-SDF made the declaration on March 10, 2014 while addressing over 5000 Wimbum people at the Mbot Palace. Ni John Fru Ndi who was at Mbot Palace, Donga Mantung to pay homage to the departed Warr Clan head and also welcome to the seated Fon Mbunwe II also used the opportunity to extend a hand of fellowship to the Southern Cameroons National Council-SCNC, arguing that the time to press Biya for Constitutional Review is Now. “We will press from all the angles” he continued. Harping on the need for constitutional review SDF National chairman said that when the SDF requested for a federal system of governance in Cameroon, Biya looked the other way round and flashed the country with decentralization which today has been unable to move a step.  According to Ni John Fru Ndi, the peace that Cameroonians have enjoyed for the past 53 years is thanks to the Anglophones given all French colonies Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Egypt, etc, have recorded chaos. Yet he emphasized that dark clouds hang over Cameroon.

On the fiftieth anniversary celebration of reunification, SDF Chieftain lamented that what he saw in Buea was a disgrace to the dignity of those fought for the reunification of Cameroon. He said he was shocked and flabbergasted that the heroes of reunification like Amadou Ahidjo, JN Foncha, ST Muna, Endeley, JT Ndzi (citing a long list of names) were all ignored and unfortunately “nameless”. ”Not even one effigy of them was displayed during the march-pass”, he continued. Ni John also narrated a scenario how Presidential guards wanted to scan him before he could enter into the grandstand. He revealed that the Biya regime is so panicking to the point that they are even afraid of telephones. “They even asked me whether I was having a phone on me. When I say yes, they requested that I should give them. I gave and they latter gave it back. You see the regime is so shaky that they are even scared of telephones. I am not a security risk in this country”. In actual fact, SDF Chieftain in a way was telling the population that there was nothing in Buea that portrayed that Cameroonians were one nation and indivisible. He said that he even rejected the seat reserved for given that they wanted to bury him behind CERAC women. And more so, they reserved a room that was synonymous to a toilet for him to stay the night and his private secretary rejected. To cut it short, the fiftieth anniversary of reunification to him was a sham that calls for an urgent need for the Anglophone dignity to be recognized constitutionally or else he would spend the last blood of his life to fight for it.

It should be recalled that in 2011, Fru Ndi in an outburst at the Supreme after all petitions on the irregularities of that year’s Presidential elections were rejected reminded Alex Dipanda Mouelle that what was transpiring was not what was agreed in 1961.

On the September 30, 2013 local elections, SDF chairman said he felt very sorry and disappointed that in Donga Mantung some people reduced themselves to selling their consciences for 500 FCFA, 1000 FCFA and 2000 FCFA. “When somebody steals my item, I do not run after him fighting, I only sit and observed to see what he/she will do with the stolen item”. He reiterated that SDF militants should not wept over the stolen Nkambe council rather they should sit and observe at what those who stole it obnoxiously will do with it.

To the Mbot people, Fru Ndi the fon disappeared like a pupa and resurfaced back in the throne like a butterfly and he applauded them for that. He told Fon Mbunwe II that his reign should be that of plenty and prosperity. “I am admired your tradition and that is why every time I go for a cry-die I would fire my gun. It is part of our tradition and I think anyone who wants to destroy this tradition will have to destroy me first”, he hammered.

On his part Hon. Awudu Mbaya thanked the SDF chieftain for the homage paid to the people of Warr. He said that Ni John Fru Ndi has not only raised him but the entire Wimbum people given that he is Questor at the National Assembly. Hon. Awudu also thanked SDF National chairman for the fight he took for part of the ring road to be tarred. “Your Excellency, I was lucky to be present when you told President Biya that he promised tarring this road and he said he will do it. And you even questioned where he was going to get the money given that nothing was mentioned in the tarring of the ring road in the budget”. Hon. Awudu said that even though construction work has not reached Donga Mantung, the fact that the tarring is getting to Kumbo is already a great deal to the people of Donga Mantung Division. Harping on the September 30, Twin elections, he lamented how people stormed Nkambe to buy peoples’ consciences with money and how cards were printed and shared. To Hon. Awudu, the elections were a masquerade of the highest order with the complicity of elections Cameroon. This, he said could easily be detected from the conflicting figures, such as the difference in the total number of registered voters for municipal and legislative election result sheets, in polling stations with out-numbered voters etc.

Mangoh Jones Tanko, former mayor of Nkambe said that the Mbot people had long fallen in love with the SDF but during last year’s election, some people refused registering. Out of the potential 7500 voters, only about 2000 voters registered. “It means that there was something wrong going on” he insisted. He said that politics has made people to be so hopeless that they went as far as buying votes.

HRH Fon Mbunwe was disturbed at the manner at which traditional rulers have entered into partisan politics.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Meet Nigeria's First Female Billionaire, Folorunsho Alakija

Folorunsho Alakija

Nigeria's first female billionaire, Folorunsho Alakija built her fortune on fashion and oil. She began her career in the 1970s as a secretary in a Nigerian bank before she quit to study fashion design in England. After returning to Nigeria she founded Supreme Stitches, a fashion label that catered to the country's high society women. Her biggest patron was Maryam Babangida, wife to Nigeria's notorious former military president. She reportedly leveraged that relationship to get a lucrative oil prospecting license, which went onto become OML 127. One of Nigeria's most prolific oil blocks, it produces as much as 200,000 barrels per day. Famfa Oil, which Alakija controls, owns a 60% stake in the asset. At 63, Flolrunsho Alakija is happily married and mother of four. Her fortune is estimate at $2.5. She is a model that all African young girls look up to for inspiration.

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Women in Action: Meet Money Making Women of 2014

Courtesy Forbe

It was a record-breaking year for women on the FORBES list of the World Billionaires. Out of 1,645 billionaires, a record 172 are women – up from 138 last year. There’s no denying that women are still a tiny minority on the list, representing a little over 10% of the total.

At the top, Christy Walton reclaims her spot as the richest woman with a $36.7 billion fortune. The widow of John Walton has had that title for four out of the last five years. She has boosted her fortune above the rest of the Walton family members through her ownership of First Solar shares. That stock rose nearly 50% in the past year.

Back in second place after a year at the top: Liliane Bettencourt, worth $34.5 billion. The L’Oreal heiress remains France’s richest person. Her fortune increased this year thanks to the company’s stock surging. She is 91, and it’s been years since she’s been involved in running the company.

The third richest woman is another Walton family member – Alice Walton($34.3 billion). The daughter of visionary retailer Sam Walton is Christy’s sister-in-law. She opened her Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas in 2011. It features works from her personal collection.

Notably, of the 268 newcomers to the ranks, 42 are women. However, only five of them built their own fortunes as opposed to inheriting them from their parents or husbands. These five remarkable women include Sheryl Sandberg($1.05 billion), who leaned into a COO position at Facebook and 12 million or so shares in the company. With the social networking firm’s share price up more than 130% in the past 12 months, she is now one of the world’s youngest self-made women billionaires.

The other newcomer self-made billionaire women include Folorunsho Alakija($2.5 billion), Nigeria’s first female billionaire, whose Famfa Oil owns a prolific oil bloc. There’s UK’s Denise Coates ($1.6 billion), the co-CEO and largest shareholder of online gambling site Bet365; Liu Xiaomeng ($1 billion), who holds a stake in the Suning Appliance Group, which in turn owns 14% of Suning Commerce Group, China’s largest appliance retailer; and Wang Laichun ($1 billion) Chairman of Shenzhen Luxshare Precision Industry Co., Ltd.

Newcomers that came to their fortunes through an inheritance include Sandra Mera Ortega, daughter of the late billionaire Rosalia Mera. Mera, along with then husband and now third-richest person in the world, founded clothing giant Inditex (best known for its Zara brand).

Finally, in a case involving a very loyal daughter, this year’s youngest billionaire is a woman. Perenna Kei, at only 24 years old, is the controlling owner of Chinese real estate giant Logan Properties. Kei is the daughter of Logan’s chairman and CEO, Ji Haipeng. Company documents indicate that she is the majority shareholder, the settler of the trust and acts “in accordance with Mr. Ji’s directions.” The company went public in December 2013 and its stock rose 2.4% on the first day of trading, making Kei a billionaire.

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Women in Action: Meet Colonel Nga Rose Angeline; First Female Military Colonel

By Fai Cassian Ndi

Colonel Nga Rose Angeline

Colonel Nga Rose Angeline is the deputy Director at the military in Younde and the first woman in the military to attain the rank of Colonel in the Cameroon army. It was in January 2001 that Nga Rose Angeline entered the book of honours as a military officer thanks to her hard work and strength of mind. Though trained as a medical Doctor at CUSS, Nga Rose Angeline against all the odd, decided to jump above the masculine artificial barriers to make a jumpstart career in the military. She was one of the two first female candidates who in 1985 passed the entrance into the Military Academy-EMIA. Apparently, she entered EMIA with the mission to make the difference and to stand out when even most people (women) seem to blend in. While at EMIA, she proved to be an all weather woman given that upon graduation she was among the first three. From all indications, Colonel Nga Rose Angeline is the rare breed that if you teach her how to fly a plane today and the next day she will make a round trip around the world. Obviously, it is her multi-talented of always making the difference that makes her a role model in the military.

As pediatric in the military, Colonel Nga Rose Angeline has proven beyond reasonable doubts that her success story, hard work, and attachment to do just what is right is linked to her humble up bringing and her unshakable belief in the Words of God. From Garoua to Yaounde where she served in various capacities, she had always tell her patients, friends and colleagues that come for the treatment of their kids that, man, no matter how rich or poor, big or small is the same in the eyes of God. Based on this physically powerful and entrenched belief of hers, she has been nick named “Iron Lady”. Yet, coming closer to Colonel Nga Rose is to make a new discovery of an army officer who is humble, down to earth and accommodative. In the opinion of a wider public, she is level-headed and a soft spoken God fearing woman. What has made her to emerge from the madding crowd is her ability to resist to enticement and her humanitarian but austere application of chain of command. Conversely, Colonel Nga Rose is the major source of hope to hundreds irrespective of tribe and region of origin. In the Northern Region where she was covering three regions, she left an indelible mark of greatness. It makes sense to indicate that beside offering unmatched selfless service to her dear fatherland, Colonel Nga Rose may not know the high esteem in which the underprivileged and the younger generation hold her. Young girls continue to look at her with a lot of admiration and many have often expressed the desire to be like her in the future.  

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa