Sammy Mbgatta Installed as Mayor of Misaje Council (ceremony in Pics

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

Massive Boycott Recorded in Nwa at Mayor's Installation

By Fai Cassian

Ngomfe and Deputies facing the grandstand with no single soul behind them

If an installation rite is the measuring rot of a politician’s popularity, the mayor of Nwa Council would simply be described as one of the ostracized mayors in Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region of Cameroon. The turnout was scanty and the worst of all is that only about 20 CPDM militants were spotted in their outfit. Besides, the population of Nwa town failed to show at the grandstand. This notwithstanding, Dr. Ngomfe Loma-David Moloh on Friday November 28, succeeded self as mayor of Nwa with firm instructions to oversee the development of the oldest border municipality of Nwa amidst doubts from the populace. Before commissioning Dr. Ngomfe Loma-David Moloh and his four deputies into office, the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division Ngone Ndodemessape Bernard warned that the council is not an organ of any political party and that the council executive as well as the councilors should ensure that there is a collective effort in all the endeavours. Donga Mantung SDO also prescribed accountability and transparency in the management of council resources. Furthermore, SDO Ngone Ndodemesape Bernard also cautioned that in his capacity as supervisory authority, he would spare no effort to use legal and administrative measures to put sanity whenever the need arises.

In fact those who took the pains to travel to Nwa through the rocky Rom Rock went back home more confused than when they were going given the numerous intrigues observed. The picture of a sub division turned apart by intrigues, blackmail and back-biting was brought to lime-light through a welcome song by the CPDM choir. In their song the youth decried that Nwa is going down into the doldrums as the political elite(s) pass time fighting each others.  Besides that they also called on the elite(s) to always come back home and not stay in cities and forget about their plight. “We cry for the creation of the Mantung Division”, the youth voiced out desperately emphasizing that for lack of access roads, Nwa has been transformed into an Island on land.

Politics in Nwa, it should be noted has been transformed into a sinkhole for character assassination. Allegedly, Dr. Ngomfe Loma-David Moloh who was installed as mayor did not vote during the last September 30 Legislative/Municipal elections. He accused his political adversaries who are with him in the same party, the CPDM for the obnoxious act. The question many have been asking is whether the argument is tenable given that he was the mayor and even the ELECAM council could not have discovered that the mayor’s name wasn’t on the list? As to whether he voted without his name featuring in the register reminds another misery. Yet he allegedly caged the councilors for three days and he was voted mayor. As to whether he bought his way as it is rampant nationwide is another secret that could only be deciphered by a lie detector.  The massive boycott was indicative given that even sources at the labour office in Nkambe hinted that more than forty complains have been submitted by staff of the council for obnoxious dismissals and irregular termination of contracts. Even though Dr. Ngomfe succeeded himself at the helm of Nwa council, an atmosphere of unfamiliarity looms large. 

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

Mayor Elect of Ndu Installed Amidst Sparkling Controversial Audit

SDO Ngone Ndodemesape flanked by Bunyui Emmanuel

By Fai Cassian Ndi

It is widely acknowledged that politics makes strange postmasters. This statement has not only been confirmed in Ndu Council but above all, it has been contextualized with the installation of Bunyui Emmanuel Yugap as the mayor of Ndu council. Bunyui Emmanuel Yugap, an educationist was on November 29, 2013 commissioned into office as the mayor of Ndu Council at a point in time that water is as scarce as dog tears in the municipality. In fact if water as they say is life, then Ndu town is actually lifeless. The expectation observed from the faces of thousands that poured at the Ndu grandstand to witness the installation rite were very high yet dark clouds hover as to whether Bunyui Emmanuel Yugap would fit into the shoes of his late father ( late Bunyui Jonathan, the workaholic mayor of Ndu) who left an indelible mark of greatness during his tenure of office. This is so because Bunyui Emmanuel upon taking over office is concentrating his energy and time waiting for a cooked-up controversial audit which pinpoints that in as much as the audit is not done, much will not be expected of him. The sparkling controversial audit The Eye is aware defeats council systems whereby periodic controls are planned and done in conformity with the regulations in force. Audits are not new in councils yet the much talk about audit of the Ndu council speaks volume at its primary intention. Councils are public institutions and the reason for an immediate audit in the Ndu council has had diversified interpretations. To some people, it is being cooked up to settle scores and on the other side a school of thought holds that this would be used as a truncate to flimsy excuses that the council is indebted to justify no work done in the future. However, The Eye is aware that teachers are smart people and obviously noted to be like the Japanese hand-breaks and full of the notion of one for all. That is why those who understand the rule of life teaches us that any momentary triumph gained through argument is a pyrrhic victory especially when it is much more powerful to get others to agree through actions without saying a word.  This is so because the mayor has been spotted severally in the office at late hours fidgeting over documents. This has recently become the talk of the town as he has also transformed himself into a driver. According to what we gathered, many who do not know him had quite often mistaken the mayor to be the driver given that he drives himself around and even out of town. Notwithstanding, allegedly Bunyui Emmanuel who was handpicked from the eight others who applied for the position of mayor for Ndu has joined the ranks of those who have been criticzing the outgone council executive and since a builder can only be judged on his manners and technics in putting up a wall, the song of desperado sounds large ahead the starter who from all indications is more concern in serving those who appointed him than those he is called up to serve-a suivre.

As the SDO for Donga Mantung Division rightly puts it “being installed as mayor is not a blank check” given that the time of reckoning will come and the supervisory authority will not accommodate any errors. To Ngone Ndodemesape Bernard, the installation rite is in pursuance of the last September 30, Municipal/Legislative elections. He congratulated the people of Ndu for their political maturity especially for the peace that reigned before, during and after elections.

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

Summonses and Suspensions Threaten Media Environment in Cameroon Reporters Without Borders Say

Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the growing intransigence of the National Communication Council (CNC), Cameroon’s media regulator, and its president, Joseph Befe Ateba.

“The CNC has taken a clearly tougher line towards journalists and media in the past two months, which is reflected in the number of summonses it has issued and the suspensions it has ordered,” Reporters Without Borders said.

“It has acted with questionable good faith by repeatedly summoning journalists on dates when it knows they are not in the capital, and by raising matters during hearings that were not mentioned in the summons. We urge it not to exceed its powers by using threats, pressure and censorship.”

Reporters Without Borders added: “We also ask the CNC to be more transparent about the way it chooses the cases in which it intervenes and the way it deliberates, in order to dispel suspicion that it is acting arbitrarily.”

Benjamin Zebaze, publisher of the daily Ouest-Littoral, and Guibaï Gatama, publisher of the weekly L’œil du Sahel, were summoned to CNC headquarters in the capital, Yaoundé, on 28 October to respond to accusations of “breaches of professional ethics” brought by Befe Ateba himself and the head of the criminal investigation police, Martin Mbarga Nguele.

The complaint against Zebaze concerned a 10 October article about the CNC’s ban on reporting election trends. The complaint against Gatama, brought by the head of the criminal investigation police, concerned a 15 October article about clashes with the police at the Cameroun-Nigeria border.

Neither Zebaze nor Gatama were in Yaoundé that day and both had to be represented by an employee.

In the weeks leading to the 30 September parliamentary elections, the CNC had started using a harsher tone.

On 14 September, the CNC circulated an election coverage guide that listed all the sanctions to which journalists and media would be exposed if they were found guilty of violating professional ethics. “I will be very intransigent,” Befe Ateba said.

The CNC previously imposed harsh sanctions on several media and journalists on 5 September for their alleged “failure to respect the provisions of the law on social communication.”

The victims included the Chronicle and Guardian Post newspapers and their publishers, the L’Epervier and Radio Sky One, and Radio Satellite journalist Peguy Meyong. The harshest sanction was reserved for Radio Djacom FM, which was banned from broadcasting altogether.

Provision for the creation of a National Communication Council was included in a December 1990 law on social communication (Law No. 90/052), which defined it as a financially autonomous entity for media regulation and consultation.

The council did not however become fully operational until earlier this year, following decrees reorganizing it and appointing its members. The internal procedures governing how it operates remain unclear.

Cameroon is ranked 120th out of 179 countries in the latest Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

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

Director of Ayaba Hotel Interrogated for 7hrs

By Cassimania in Bamenda

Ayaba Hotel in Bamenda, a one-time enviable citadel of tourism in the North West Region of Cameroon is wallowing in the gutter as its Director Zacharie Doume has confirmed to journalists that he was interrogated by elements of the judicial police for 7 hours for allege mismanagement error. Zacharie Doume who was appointed director of Ayaba barely a year ago has been under fire from the day that he transformed part of the land reserved for its expansion into an empty poultry farm and a plantain plantation. Talking to the Press today December 25, 2013, the Director also confirmed allegations that the workers of the hotel had petitioned him for obnoxious practices and mismanagement of revenue. More so, the director is being accused of managing the hotel as if it were a personal property and not a public institution with accountants, auditors, etc. To authenticate some of these allegations raised by Ayaba workers, Zacharie Doume who summoned for a public auditing with the Press was visually unable to present a balance sheet of his income and expenditures for the past one year. This, expressionists say is indicative that Ayaba hotel has been transformed into a quarter store whereby the income and expenditure is known to nobody except the owner.

When quizzed by this reporter whether he could give a vivid account of how much has been generated and how much has been spent, Zacharie Doume rambled with words without pronouncing any figure but went further to announce how when he took over the management of the hotel with accrued debts estimated over 36 million FCFA.  To the Director, “everything that comes in is spent for repairs and renovations” but as to how much came in as income and how has been spent remains a misery only known to the director.

 Harping on a petition which ignited the police interrogation, the Director of Ayaba, castigated the move by his colleagues, adding that he was shocked to discover that he is surrounded by goats in sheep skins. He confirmed haven set up a poultry farm and a plantain plantation of 100 suckers outside the hotel gate which he said was formerly a hide out for bandits. However, insinuated that the he has invested a lot in transforming Ayaba from the kitchen right down to the night club, up to the rooms and down to the garden making the hotel fit to contest in any competition nationwide.

 It should be recalled that in December 2010 during the celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the Cameroon Army in Bamenda, the state pumped in over 520 million FCFA for renovation work and today, much is being echoed about renovation work as if the funds disbursed from state coffers ended up in private pockets. He even revealed that when he arrived Ayaba, 25 workers of the hotel were still earning a merger salary of 25.000 FCFA per month and he had to raise their salaries to 28.000 FCFA and since January 2013, the salary of the 25 workers were doubled to 50.000 FCFA. Besides that he also revealed that all Ayaba workers are registered with the National Social Insurance Fund-CNPS. Yet when contacted, the workers say they have not had a dime increased on their monthly pay package.

(UP Next: The Accusations against Zacharie Doume, Director of Ayaba)

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

President Biya’s 31st Annviversary: Misaje Confirms Unfliching Support in New Deal

By Fai Cassian Ndi

Minister Fuh Calistus addressing the population

Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, Secretary of State for Mines, Industries and Technological Development cum head of the Central Committee delegation for the celebration of President Biya’s 31 years in office has described the 31 years of the New Deal government as peaceful, stable and full of immense development projects. Minister Fuh Calistus told thousands in Misaje that they are lucky that President Biya has a soft-spot for them reasons why they have benefitted a lot from the New Deal Government. He thanked the people of Misaje for the unflinching support in the CPDM and congratulated them for the over 62% score in the legislative elections. Dr. Fuh Calistus also used the opportunity to announce to the population that government has proved funding for the opening of streets in Misaje. According to Dr. Fuh Calistus, the people of Ako/Misaje stand to benefit a lot from the New Deal Government more than ever before. To Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry, Misaje will continue to be the flag bearer of the CPDM and the New Deal Government in Donga Mantung Division. President Biya’s devotedness the New Deal policy as brought numerous blessings and development in the country and “the people of Ako/Misaje are happy to be part of this era” adding that the Misaje train took off and it is on it way to the Promised Land with the CPDM. Harping on the September 30, municipal and legislative elections, Dr. Fuh Calistus said that all the key opposition leaders like Ni John Fru Ndi, Belo Bouba Maigari, stormed Misaje to lobby for votes, but at the end of it all, the population voted massively for the CPDM which clearly indicates that the people decided to “chase away the opposition”. With the landslide victory recorded during the last elections, the opposition he affirmed is out of action in Misaje.

To alleviate poverty and foster development efforts, he also announced the creation of the Misaje Business Forum which he concluded will go a long way to build the nation.

It should be recalled that there was euphoria and fanfare in Misaje as over 100 dance groups gathered at the grandstand to commemorate President Paul Biya’s 31 years at the helm of the nation. Trumpet blast echoed when the head of the CPDM central Committee for the 31^st Anniversary celebration of President Paul Biya’s ascension to power, Dr. Fuh Calistus arrived the ceremonial ground flanked by the wife, Madame Sally Gentry. Dancing and singing marked their triumphant entry into the Misaje grandstand as everyone sang the famous “enjoyment and victory song” of the New Deal.

Welcoming the head of the central committee delegation to Misaje, the elated mayor elect, cum CPDM Section President for Donga Mantung V, Misaje Section Sammy Mgbata Nforkembah busted that “this day is a wonderful, because it marks the beginning of a new era” To the cpdm Section President, Misaje Sub Division has benefited much from the New Deal Government of President. He cited the creation of GHS Misaje which was later transformed to GBHS Misaje, GTHS Misaje, GSS Dumbu, GSS Chunghe, GSS Akweto, SAR/SM Misaje, CEAC Chunghe, the electrification of Misaje town, the provision of potable water to nearly all the villages in the sub Division, the construction and quipping of the Misaje telecenter, the construction of the Misaje-Babungo road, the construction of the Kwei bridge on the prospective Dumbu-Bisula road in Nigeria, the grading of the Misaje-Wum Road, Misaje-Nkambe road, etc etc. Above all, Sammy Mgbata concluded that this day is memorable in the sense that it marks 31 years since H.E President Paul Biya took over the command baton of this great country Cameroon. He thanked President Paul Biya for appointing Prime Minister Philemon Yang, as Head of Government as well as Dr. Fuh Calistus (Secretary of State for Mines, Industries and Technological Development, an illustrious son of Misaje and above all, sons and daughters of the North West Region in high positions in Government.

Best Villages Encouraged, Njekeh Philip Too

At the end of the ceremony, the most performing villages in the September 30, Municipal/Legislative elections were applauded. Chunghe, Nkanchi and Bebekette villages were announced as the best in terms of their support for CPDM. The villages will be rewarded on March 24, 2014 during the Anniversary of the party. Also Njekeh Philip was also honoured as the most dynamic CPDM militant. Fuh Calistus described him as a exemplary militant who merit encouragements. Talking to this reporter after the celebration, former mayor of Misaje, Nkenda Simon Sunde described President Biya’s 31 years as eventful and pace-setter for Vision 2035

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