Drama at Ndu Council Mini Agropastoral Show

By Fai Cassian Ndi

CTE Exhibition stand

Tongues are still waging amongst the residents of Ndu over the unexpected incident that transpired at the Ndu Council Mini Agropastoral show on February 1, 2014, precisely at the CTE exhibition stand. The story goes that when the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung and his entourage were having a view of the exhibits, they were warmly received at the exhibition stand set up by the Cameroon Tea Estate-CTE. After a toss over a cup of tea, the officials were each handed small packages of tea. There was a mad rush for free tea packages given that local shops in Ndu no more sell them but to the greatest astonishment of all, the MP for Nkambe Centre Constituency (Ndu) Hon. Esther Ngala Ntala was adamant to it.  When she was offered a package, she turned down the offer. “I do not need it”, she vomited. She was expressing the disillusionment of the population who over the years were cheated, maltreated and belittled ever since CDC was sold out to the business magnate, El Hadj Baba Danpoullo. The way the population affirmed her words was as if everyone was waiting for that particular moment. Hon. Esther Ngala was applauded for standing by the people unlike the conversational mayor Bunyui Emmanuel who almost went on bended knees to get a package of Ndawara tea. Hon. Esther Ngala even exploded that sometimes ago, Baba Danpoulo threatened that he was going to transform the tea farm into an orchard. This she said was a sign of provocation. “Why should CTE be distributing Ndawara Tea in Ndu? What about Ndu Tea?, a discontented voice was heard wondering in the crowd.  A school of thought holds that CTE only bought the tea plants and not the land yet it menace remains a mirage. Someone even wondered loudly whether the mayor of Ndu was not running faster ahead of the population and that if he wants to go far he should move together with the people and not alone. Implicitly, that fact that he collected the small package of Ndawara tea has had multiples interpretation as to whether the people of Ndu made the rightful choice. Yet as for his 100 days in office, preliminary indicators show that he could make a better leader if quite often he looks back to the people, get their feelings before any action. The construction of market shed at the Ndu market has been applauded even though he misfired by collecting few packages of Ndawara tea which many see as in-correct.



Locally Processed Tea ready for the market

It should be noted one official whose name I have just forgotten in his speech vomited that “Ndu has been renowned for tea production. Unfortunately, the privatization of the estate has brought about a mismatch between the economic pains of economic operators and the socio-economic fall outs on the community”. The Eye gathered that CTE has been transformed into an extraordinary affair. The colour and the flavor of Ndu Tea is not known to the population. The produce has of late become as scarce as dog tears reasons why small holders developed local processing methods. Even so, they are often harassed by officials of CTE. Recently, the European Union decided to came to the rescue of some 24 small holders grouped under the umbrella of Efforts CIG by providing them with a processing plant for tea production.  Njengti Francis says of late 6 tea farmers were arrested and detained for processing and selling tea locally. "In the past we use to sell our tea leaves to CDC but when CTE took over they refused buying from us. We were oblige to develop local processing methods yet they do not want us to sell our own produce. This support from the EU is a breakthrough".

It should be recalled that GLOBINET recently issued a press release decrying the manner in which things are unfolding at the Ndu tea plantation.

(Coming Up: Savannah Radio-Ndu, Jiti George and the Journalism of Iscariot-ism)

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

Time to Stop Harassment of Cameroon's NGOs

Press Release

Many civil society groups in Africa have to work under a threat of intimidation on an almost daily basis. Far from the headlines, grassroots organizations across the continent are harassed, often violently by both the official and corporate world for simply standing up for the rights of their communities and their environment.

In Cameroon, Time to Stop Harassment of Cameroon's NGOs - Greenpeace is working closely with two such groups to try and inform about the threats posed by a reckless palm oil project destroying natural forests and livelihoods in the country's Southwest region. Operated by the US agribusiness company Herakles Farms, the project was carried out illegally for more than three years until a land lease (as required by national law) was finally awarded last year - albeit for a far reduced area than the 73,000 hectares they were originally after.

The Struggle to Economize the Future environment (SEFE) and Nature Cameroon are two organisations based in the area Herakles is targeting and comprised of local community members concerned over the fate of their land. SEFE has been campaigning peacefully against the plantation from the moment it was announced back in 2009 and have been repeatedly harassed ever since by both company and local government officials.

Nasako Besingi, who heads SEFE, found out first hand at the end of 2012 the consequences of daring to oppose the project. Arrested before planning a peaceful demonstration in the town of Mundemba, South West province, Nasako and two of his colleagues spent several days languishing, without charge, in a dank, dark prison cell.

That summer he had also been ambushed and assaulted while touring the area with a French television crew by men he recognized as employees of Herakles Farms. Now he and his organization are facing numerous charges including attempting to organize an illegal meeting.

Nature Cameroon are another small, but fiercely committed group, based in the village of Nguti. In September 2013 they received an official letter informing them they no longer had the right to organize any meetings. This decision was apparently necessary because Nature Cameroon had organized meetings "not authorized by the administration" - although the administration refrained from actually naming any of those alleged meetings.

This effective shutdown was in fact a direct response to Nature Cameroon's work with communities in the area. Throughout last summer the group were invited by village chiefs to come and discuss the implications - many potentially disastrous - of the Herakles farms projects for residents, something in reality the company should have done themselves. They were, in most cases, welcome and all passed peacefully.

Calls to reverse the suspension order have fallen on deaf ears and it is plainly evident that acts of repression and intimidation are all too commonplace against both groups and are mirrored elsewhere in the region and continent.

Attempting to silence and punish individuals and activists that are peacefully and tirelessly fighting for the protection of people's rights and the preservation of Cameroon's natural environment and forests goes against all that Greenpeace stands for on this continent.

Based on that ethos we are among the many international and local organisations who have co-signed a letter this week to the UN Special Reporters on the right to food, human rights and the environment and on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association to call an immediate investigation into these abuses.

If such repression continues to go unnoticed and unaccounted for then governments and corporations will continue to impose their will with impunity even when it is contrary to the will and well-being of resident.

“Depressed Herakles Farms had to scale-back its enormous bogus palm project after failing to win the permits for their full 74,300 hectares of rain forest originally targeted for their palm and logging projects in the South West of Cameroon”.

BETOCKVOICES    betockvoices@gmail.com

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Have You Heard the News from Camer? Part One

Massa Writam Pen

My people, can someone kindly tell me why it is taking too long for Popol to dismiss all these ministers, minister delegates and secretary of states? I hear he is rather contemplating on changing the constitution to scrape off the post of Prime Minister and introducing that of Vice President and not dismissing cabinet ministers as expected. Who said Popol has no conscience on the marginalization of Anglos? The other day someone so close to power hinted me that Popol may likely summon an extraordinary session of the National Assembly to table a bill on the revision of the constitution. But I think he may wait for the March session for it to happen. I am praying for Yang Philemon because if the post of Prime Minister is scraped off, he is likely to go jobless. Maybe be my brother Yang could be catapulted to head the Constitutional Council. Senator Niat Njifenji Marcel too is likely to lost the privy as the constitutional successor of the head of state as Popol is very determine to fashion Cameroon to look like Obama’s USA. Do you know that Uncle Sam’s Obama has invited our illustrious head of state to attend AGOA in October this year? I am sure when he will get to the USA; he will be telling Obama how Camer is like the US with Vice President, Senate and Parliament. Bravo

Have you heard the latest? The trumpeted 50^th Anniversary of Reunification or sorry (53^rd anniversary) let me put in French so that we remain within the context “cinquantenaire” may likely take place on February 11, 2014. I spotted Roger Belinga Eboutou, the Director of Cabinet Popol at weekend in Buea claiming a lot of importance. He was surely assigned to cross-check the level of preparedness. I am sure some of us might have forgotten the significance of February 11, which is celebrated as Youth Day. My father told me that it was the Plebiscite Day but history distorted it to be known as Youth Day. I do not know what it means anyway. What baffles me is that ever since Popol announced that the “le cinquantenaire” was to be celebrated in Buea, he has kept the date to himself as if it is a state secret. I was told Roger Belinga left Buea with a satisfactory note at work-done, hopes have risen again that Popol may storm Buea to grab his PHD in Political Science. A close friend to the chairman of the local organizing committee has confirmed that 111 hotels of 2500 rooms have been identified, 18 parking spaces and the water capacity has been augmented from 3000 to 7000 m3. I wish the ceremony is postponed again for my people of Buea to benefit more lofty projects. Do you know that Popol coughed out FCFA 13.5 billion to sponsor reunification projects? I have spent two days pondering on what Popol tell Cameroonians when he finally comes to Buea? Will he declare the independence of Southern Cameroons as purported by Nfor Nfor and others or will he adhere to the idea of UN state of Cameroon as administered by Prof. Chia and co? I am sure you all heard about the explosive publication by Global Times (smoked screened as based in Nigeria) announcing that 16 States in Nigeria have decided to join the UN State of Cameroons. Could it be a scam by Prof. Chia and co to get my retired fathers of their hard earned currency that independence is at hand? Last week news circulated that Lucky Goodluck Jonathan was coming to meet his brother Popol for a tete-a-tete. I imagined that he was coming with a more serious agenda but he was no way found. You already know the controversy surrounding those 16 states that allegedly decided to join the UN state of Cameroons, you may have heard of the Boko Haram kidnapping and how they see Cameroon as a source of financing. I cannot say precisely whether any ransom was paid for the release of French tourists and Priest that were kidnapped. You know that a week ago Nigerian troops encroached into Cameroonian soil to bomb Boko Haram targets. I got a hint that some guys were arrested up North with guns and bullets. They say they were from Sudan and were heading to deliver them to members of the Boko Haram sect.  

This country has fever! You know when the state of mind is not free; we can consul ourselves by listening to music. But I am now convinced that Cameroonian musicians will die of abject poverty with Mafor Yaah Yefon Ama Tutu Muna as Minister of Arts and Culture. The Socam/ Ndedi Eyango saga is still topical. You know when two elephants fight, the grass suffer. I hear the issue of double nationality is giving Paul Biya Bi Mvondo a lot of headache. Always, Mafor Yaah Yefon Ama Tutu Muna has proven to be a superwoman. She violated the Supreme Court verdict sometimes ago and nothing happened to her. This time, I am sure that she must have stepped on wrong toes. Is she really aware that someone like Ndedi Eyango who sang “You must Calculate” is not a man to pigeon-hole with? Can you imagine that Ndedi Eyango who was born and breed in Nkongsamba, and whose parents are still living in Nkongsamba is said to be an American? What about those ministers, MPs and Mayors with French and American nationalities? I know a score of them. Let me ask this stupid question, is Ama herself a Cameroonian? Someone murmured to me that she is a Senegalese, but I do not know how true. You know the latest in Camer now is the creation of normalization committees. Ama also created one with San Fan Thomas as chairman but unfortunate she made very wrong choices. Three members have thrown the towel to the dogs. The talkative Prof. Owona Mathias Nguni and two others say they cannot be part of the masquerade. I hear the SOCAM saga ignited from the sharing of money. Ndedi Eyango said is a victim for refusing to be part of a chopping arrangement. Wow. I hope you are aware that the French Court finally ruled that our Longue Longue could return back to serve his prison term here if he coughs out FCFA 35 million into the French treasury. I do not know how feasible and how he will get such a huge amount. You know this Iyebo people are tricksters, they give you a goat but hang on the robe. Another Cameroonian giving Iyebo headache is Dieudonne Mballa. Have ever heard that name before? I hear he is a torn in the flesh of Iyebo people there in France. Rumours abound that he was caught with huge sums of money on his home. Oh lala.. I hope he helps Longue Longue to get out of the mess.

Did you hear John Ntarinkon’s declaration? Papa Suffer has finally confirmed that he will go back to TB Joshua again. John Ntarinkon is not sick but says it is Cameroon that is being chopped by injustice. And that only Prophet TB Joshua can deliver Cameroon from injustice reasons why he took Cameroon flag to Lagos and handed it to TB Joshua to pray and fast over it for justice to prevail in Camer here.  But we are still to know whether it was TB Joshua who asked him not to attend New Year wishes at the Unity Palace. Could it be?  Oh! Poor Cameroon!!

I hope you got the sound of the government Vuvuzela last week. The echoes of France 24 certainly removed Tchiroma from the Mandara Mountains where he took refuge after a serious bash at the September 30, polls. You see how powerful Iyebo power can be. I hope you also watched the documentary on France 24 on how homosexuals are persecuted in Cameroon. The state vuvuzela sound hard on Iyebos that Cameroon is land for polygamy and not barbaric homosexuals. Such barbaric practices he said will not be accepted here and that even the Bible and the Koran are all against it. The constitution too doesn’t accept men and women of the same sex to get married here. It is a taboo the sound of the vuvuzela goes firing. But what he did not say was that only some of them (ministers) are honored to practicing it in order to get supernatural powers to rule and remain in the corridors for power for decades. Those who are promoting it putting are not doing so against the state but trying to destroy humanity Tchiroma says.  Tchiroma also turned to the local media to help rescue the image of Cameroon which is being tarnished by a certain Iyebo channel.

I hope you must have heard of a love affair that ended up in tears and deaths at the University of Bamenda. You must have heard the story of a young Bami who matched his girlfriend to pieces at Bambili. The young man too we hear drank a concoction as angry mob finally stabbed him too and he died instantly. Luciene and Larent maybe somewhere in another world reflecting over their love errors that has put the security of students at UBa to question. Oh my Poor Edokat. I just received a telephone call from a friend of mine indicating that a mighty storm is gathering to sweep Tafah Edokat, the VC of UBa. You quite remember how on January 21, 2013, youths of Bambili went on strike to express their dissatisfaction. Now, Anglophone MPs, Civil Society, Clergies and Teachers Trade Unions are allegedly mobilizing to denounce the way the Higher Technical Teachers Training College is managed. They say Edokat has allowed Francophones to flood the institution; lectures are in French etc etc…It is hot in Bambili.

Bye-bye to Bobe Francis Yong. Pa Yong who died in Atlanta was buried in his Anyajua village today. I thought Popol was going to declare an official burial for him. He was a true patriotic Cameroonian and real nation builder. I am praying that his legacy should live as long as river Nile. You know Pa Yong was the only Northwesterner who could be compared to Farfre in the Mayor of Casterbridge because everything that he touches grows. He empowered children of the rich and the poor, the young and the old, the poor and the rich. In fact story long but time short. See you next weekend….bye-bye.

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

Bye-Bye Pa Yong

By Fai Cassian 

The mortal remains of Bobe Francis Yong arrived Bamenda where it was moved from the Akum Mortuary to the Bamenda Cathedral. The great educationist, football promoter, media promoter and philanthropist died in Atlanta-USA last December 30, 2013 while on a medical routine checkup. However, Pa Yong’s remains left USA on Monday January 27, 2014 via Paris in France. He landed at the Douala Airport on Wednesday January 29, 2014 and then Bamenda the next day. According to the program at our disposal, he was to be moved from the Akum Mortuary today January 31, 2014 at about 8 am. From there, Pa Yong’s mortal remains will be taken to the St. Joseph Metropolitan Cathedral, Mankon for a funeral mass to be presided by Bishop Nkea from Mamfe. There after, an official funeral and eulogies at the Bamenda Congress Hall. It was where the weak, the strong, the rich and the poor had to pay their homage to the departed hero. Pa Yong’s remains would be moved to his private residence for an all night vigil. On Saturday, February 1, 2014, there would be a final funeral mass at his higher institution, the National Polytechnic Bamenda to be presided by Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo. At by 13 pm, Bobe Francis Yong’s mortal remains would be taken to his native Anyajua in Kom, Boyo Division for burial.

It should be recalled that Bobe Francis Yong died shortly after Yong Sport Academy won the Cameroon Cup and some few months after he lost the mother. Born on January 8, 1945, Bobe Francis Yong was raised in a typical Kom family of moderate parents. He quest for education earned him the First School Leaving Certificate, London Chamber of Commerce(1) and a Diploma in Secretariat duties. He was recruited into the Public Service as a Clerical Assistant and had worked at the Bamenda DO’s office as a typist. After 24 years of service, he retired and created the stenographic school which he later transformed it to Progressive College. He gave a human face the problem of school fees by accepting even foodstuff and other farm produce. This caught the admiration of parents and gave birth to a series of schools such as PCHS Bamenda, KCHS Anyajua and the admirable National Polytechnic of Bamenda.  He also left an indelible mark of greatness as a sports promoter with two 1^st Division teams, National Polytechnic FC and Yong Sports Academy. He is also the proprietor of Cameroon National Television-CNTV and Abakwa FM. Before he kicked the bucket, he had been putting in place at Agricultural School at Bambui. As it stands, Bobe Francis Yong would be remembered beyond the borders of Cameroon. At the time of putting this farewell to Pa Yong, confidential sources hinted that Pa Yong would be decorated Posthumous by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization.  

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Scandal at CBC as Church Loses FCFA 5.5 Million to Fire

The question as to why church money should be trusted to the keeping of an individual for four days abound high at the Nkwen Baptist Church following reports that a total sum of FCFA 5.5 million was consumed by fire. The incident of January 20, 2014 has been talk of the day among CBC church goers in Bamenda town and even beyond. The story goes that the sum of FCFA 5.5 million was handed to Pa Mike Kuiyo so that he keeps in the accounting unit of the CBC but four days after, the money was reported gulped by fire. Allegations abound that Mike Kuiyo mistakenly dropped the money into the waste basket. The content was later emptied and set on fire.  It is aired that some pupils of CBC primary school noticed that money was being consumed by fire they took advantage to benefit some few banknotes. More so, it is also alleged that when alerted on the occurrence, some workers of the Education board of the CBC also benefitted to pick some few banknotes. Yet the General Secretary of the CBC as well as pastor Njini Edward have kept seal lips on the issue. According to a hint, the judicial police in Bamenda recently opened an investigation on the FCFA 5.5 million saga. Inside sources at the CBC hinted at weekend that a commission of Inquiry headed by Ngafeeson Emmanuel has been named and others members according to the hint include Prof. Tih Pius and Fai Yengo Francis. Tongues are waging at CBC Nkwen as some Christians have started pointing accusing fingers at their enemies and suspecting them of having a hidden hand in the incident.

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All Roads Lead to Bambili for Two-in-One Celebration on Feb. 7

By Fai Cassian 

HRH Fon Tamukum II of Bambili

Sons and daughters of Bambili village (Mezam Division) in the North West Region of Cameroon are preparing for a cultural fiesta which kick-starts on February 7, 2014. This groundbreaking two-in-one celebration of February 7, 2014 promises to be the biggest crowd puller of the year given the magnitude of the event. According to the hint, all is now set for the cultural fiesta at the Bambili Fon’s palace that will begin with the public presentation of the newly enthroned traditional ruler of the (Mbili) Bambili people, HRH Fon Tamukum II and the commencement of the funeral celebration of HRH Late Fon Awemo II. Gun firing, masquerades display, singing and dancing will take the central stage for at least four weeks commencing February 7. North West Governor, Adolph Lele Lafrique as well as the Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam Nguele Nguele Philip are also expected to join in the celebrations marking the life of HRH Fon Awemo II. North West traditional rulers as well as key political figures of the region will also mark their presence to pay homage to the departed hero.  HRH Fon Awemo II is accredited for his contribution towards the development of Bambili village. He allocated land to host the University of Bamenda, the Regional College of Agriculture, ENS and many other institution of higher learning. Before passing away to eternity, he left an indelible mark of greatness. He was the eleventh ruler of the industrious Mbili(Bambili) of the North West Region.

HRH Fon Tamukum II succeeded Late Fon Awemo II and he is the 12^th ruler of the (Mbili) Bambili people. Historically, the Mbili people (Bambili today) are of the Tikari tribe.  

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