FCFA 6 Billion Budget for Limbe Council in 2014

The sum was adopted by senior councilors during the 2nd ordinary session of the Council.

The City of Limbe, chief town of Fako Division in the South West Region will witness a transformation in terms of socio-economic infrastructure aimed at improving the welfare and living conditions of its population.

The embellishment drive to transform Limbe into a modern city shall be realized with the FCFA 6 billion budget for 2014 financial year which was adopted on December 23, 2013 by Senior Councillors of the municipality in the presence of the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Georges Zang III.

While presenting the draft budget for adoption, the Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Motanga Andrew Monjimba, stated that the 2014 budget has witnessed an increase of FCFA 500 million in absolute terms and 9.09 percent in relative terms compared to that of 2013 budget that stood at FCFA 5.5 billion. Mr. Motanga said 43.98 percent of the budget is dedicated to investment embedded in the action plan.

The Government Delegate listed some of the investment projects the Council will embark on to embellish the city amongst which are the maintenance and provision of water supply and electricity, grading and resurfacing of earth roads, tarring of more roads and construction of culverts and bridges within the municipality, construction of a historic Museum, putting up a building to host the fire fighting service, construction of a restaurant, playground and Green belt.

To realize all the ambitious plan of action, the Government Delegate stated that the Council will intensify revenue collection and diversify its revenue base.

The SDO for Fako in his remarks noted that much still needs to be done to transform Limbe into a veritable sea site city and thus challenged the Councillors to be realistic in the development drive of the city which to him should reflect the aspirations of the population. Zang III admonished the Council executive to avoid waste and unnecessary expenditure and shun embezzlement of Council funds but rather lay emphasis on revenue collection in order to meet up with the needs of the population.

The Senior Councils before addressing a motion of support to the Head of State also adopted the motion for the Council to take over the sponsorship of Njalla Quan International Marathon in honour of Henry Njalla Quan, the pioneer Government Delegate and organize an annual Limbe Arts and Culture festival.

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

Former Principal of GBHS Nkambe Slammed 11 Years Jail Term

Lucia Ngwe Mbongson, former Principal of GBHS Nkambe has been slammed 11 years jail term by the Buea Court of First Instance for child trafficking. Arrested on May 10, 2013 in Buea after she was caught in possession of a six months old child, Madame Lucia Ngwe was found guilty by the court last December 24, 2013. The court we gathered took the decision after a maternal DNA test and other medical tests were conducted on the said child. The DNA test we learnt was conducted in a renounced medical in laboratory in Canada. Even though the DNA test showed no link between the supposed mother and the child, Madame Lucia Ngwe had maintained her statement that the child came to her through the mythical tacts of a certain pastor in Nigeria. It is alleged that the said pastor gave her a concoction and after taking it she fell unconscious and when she regained consciousness, she just discovered the child beside her. But the court found her guilty of child trafficking. She was slammed 11 years jail term and fined to pay a sum of FCFA 1.5 million.  

However information reaching us indicate that the child has been handed to the Services of Social Affairs. 

Of late, the phenomenon of child theft has become a perpetual nightmare in Cameroon. More so, with the rampant baby factories in Nigeria, women quite often fake pregnancies to blindfold their families and after few months resurface with few months old babies. 

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

Catholic Church and the State in Criminal Land Grap

By Christopher FON A

On 02 January 2013, His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua, Catholic Archbishop of Bamenda issued a quit notice for 300 Mbororo people to leave their houses and farms in Wumse-Ndzah, Bamenda III Subdivision, North-West Cameroon.

His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua claimed that Minister Jean Baptiste Baleoken, formerly of State Property and Land Tenure signed Arête No. 000947/K.6.1/MINDAF/D1/D13 of 2 September 2011 granting 46 hectares 38 acres and 98m at Wumse Ndzah to His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua, Archbishop of Bamenda, representing CATUC.

This was for the construction of a US$ 110,000,000 (FCFA 55 billions) Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC) complex.

The Archbishop claimed he was interested in the land because it was empty. At the same time he claimed he had paid out FCFA 23,584,236 (US$ 47,169) as compensation for the houses and farms on the land.

Cameroon Land Tenure laws forbid the expropriation, attachment, prescription and alienation of occupied and developed land for any public purposes. The Mbororo had occupied the Mamada Estates since 1904 and their occupancy was recognized by Ordinance No 49 of 1933.

Enow Simon Junior, former Divisional Delegate of Lands and Surveys for Mezam Division had been motivated financially to disregard a 2009 Prefectural order for the identification and demarcation of Land in Category 2 for the CATUC. Land in Category 2 is unoccupied and unexploited land, while land in Category 1 is occupied and exploited.

Commission for the Restoration of Patriotism and Integrity (CORPIC) was approached by Dr Abdulkarimu Shehu of Mbororo Social and Cultural Association (MBOSCUDA) to advocate on behalf of the 300 Mbororo of Bandzah.

Facts and documents were collected convincing CORPIC that the expropriation of the Mbororo land by functionaries of the Cameroon government was biased and a result of some special interest of the local administrations of Mezam and the North West Region.

Meetings were held with Governor Adolphe Lele l’Afrique of the North West Region and SDO Felix Nguele Nguele, Senior Divisional Officer of Mezam Division. His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua and his agents and assigns also attended these meetings where CORPIC pointed out the illegalities of the land concession.

Court actions were commenced to stop the Archbishop from destroying Mbororo houses and farms. The CATUC represented by His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua also filed a suit against the Ardo and others for trespassing on CATUC land.

While the administrative and legal arguments were ongoing, SDO Felix Nguele Nguele personally supervised the destruction of Bambili houses on Mamada Estates 2 May 2013. All the destroyed houses had land certificates issued by the government of Cameroon. Farms belonging to some 175 Bambili people were also destroyed.

This was to make way for the resettlement of the Mbororo. CORPIC protested this destruction and petitioned President Paul Biya.

SDO Felix Nguele Nguele claimed he could not override the decision of the minister as the minister was his hierarchical boss. Yet Barrister Robert Fon had prayed all stakeholders to restrain from any further actions till the court ruled on the matter.

Rita Izsak, UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues paid a visit to the disputed land and dispossessed people on 9 September 2013. She barely held her tears from flowing when she was shown the houses destroyed by the administration.

“I do not believe a government can put its people through such suffering.” Rita Izsak said carrying young Lum who was rescued from the debris of one of the destroyed houses on 02 May 2013.

Court of First Instance Bamenda ruled that it was incompetent to rule on the matter praying it to stop the CATUC from destroying Mbororo houses. After hearing the matter for six months and after ascertaining that the Mbororo land was effectively occupied and developed, Magistrate Francis Achu concluded that the Administrative Court would have to decide since the errors were committed by the administration.

On the matter filed by His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua, against Ardo Mamada for trespass, the court promised to send an arrest warrant to the archbishop for contempt of court. Even though it was the archbishop who sued Ardo Bi Mamada for trespass on CATUC land, Cornelius Fontem Esua despised all the court sessions, so the court dismissed the suit and said it was going to cause the arrest of the archbishop.

Victims of expulsion and destruction Abandoned

While the various court actions were ongoing, the Mbororo were prevented from farming their fields. Ardo Adamu Bi Mamada (third class chief of the Mbororo) alone produced 200 tons of Irish potatoes a year. He missed three planting seasons because he had earlier been arrested, tortured and detained on orders from Divisional Officer (DO) Walters Tarkang. He had hired a tractor from Senator Simon Achidi Achu to till his farm. He was arrested and stopped from farming his land. The Mbororo lived in perpetual fear before CORPIC stepped in to reassure them that nobody will take an inch of their land as their rights were protected by the laws of the Republic of Cameroun.

The Bambili people on their part lost two seasons of corn and other crops during the destruction of their farms by SDO Felix Nguele Nguele.

There is an emergency unit at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization. This competent relief service has not yet reacted to bring charity to the dispossessed people. There is also a Catholic Relief Services. It has failed to address this human suffering.

"Apart from these people being a minority, they are first and famous human beings. The whole human community of human beings should come to their rescue." said Prof Nche Zama.

It is not dignifying for people to be rendered homeless because of administrative errors for more than six months and nothing is done. They will be spending this cold Christmas as homeless people.

Even after all the media exposure of the matter, very few people are reacting.

Harvard Professor of Cardiology, Nche Zama paid a solidarity visit to these wretched people of the earth and promised that the Archbishop of Bamenda would have to kill him before expelling a single Mbororo from their land. The professor concluded that "..most heart conditions are provoked by physical trials and tribulations."

The government of Cameroon has so far relieved the corrupt Enow Simon Junior of his duties as Lands and Surveys delegate for Mezam Division. It was also discovered that he had sold other government landed properties around Mezam Division and was living in affluence like a billionaire even though his life's savings will not amount to FCFA 50 million.

There was a lot of corroboration in this botched land deal. The former SDO of Mezam is alleged to have received money from the Catholics to visa their application to occupied and developed land. DO Walters Tarkang of Bamenda III should be invited by the anti-corruption unit (CONAC) to explain what caused his bias to consent to the expropriation of Mbororo land by CATUC. As chairman of the Lands Consultative Board of Bamenda III Subdivision, DO Walters Tarkang is aware of the Land Tenure Laws of Cameroon. He chose to despise the laws and arrested, tortured and detained the third class chief of the Mbororo.

As a man of God, His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua should have been wary to expose any member of the human community to suffering. He heads the Peace and Truth Commission of the Archdiocese of Bamenda. Some of the noblest humane goals are espoused by this commission.

The man of God should not have considered the mediation of Dr Alfred Ndi who presented himself as a friend of the Mbororo. Dr Alfred Ndi, lecturer at the University of Bamenda, transformed himself into an Arab’s camel and applied for a title to 45 hectares of the Mbororo land for himself. The brilliant scheme of the learned professor was to take part of the Mbororo land while the CATUC took the other. When his machinations were discovered and reported, he brought a nuisance suit of defamation against the activist.

It was a visibly shocked Laura Anyola (manager of the Peace and Truth Commission of the Archdiocese of Bamenda) who received CORPIC's first petition to the Archbishop.

Many Catholics are disheartened by the actions of this Catholic prelate. Apart from the land matter being construed as an attack by the Catholics on Muslim interests, it is an affront to the very moral values professed in Catholic churches every day. The Mbororo were already threatening to invite the Boko Haram or Alqaeda of the Maghreb to come to its rescue. The North West Region of Cameroon is prone to ethnic conflicts and tribal wars. Fomenting trouble where there was non is very unfortunate, especially as it is coming from a church. 

While CORPIC was considering petitioning Pope Francis to fire His (dis)Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua, news came of the firing of Archbishop Tonye Bakot of the Yaounde Archdiocese. CORPIC did not wish to take away so many shepherds from the stampeded flock of the Catholic Church.

Considering that the Archbishop of Bamenda encouraged a situation capable of provoking civil strife, in spite his priestly vows, he should now be relieved by the Catholic hierarchy of his leadership role in front of a lost Catholic flock threatened by pedophilia, corruption, and other earthly gangrenes. Pope Francis should move to accept the resignation letter of the corrupt priest, or to be crude, fire Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Esua.

 

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

GP DERUDEP Gets FCFA 19.5 Billion Funding for Phase II

The Grass Feild Participatory and Decentralized Rural Development Project-GP DERUDEP has got a FCFA 12.5 billion from the African Development Bank-ADB and a FCFA 7 billion from the Cameroon government to alleviate poverty in the North West Region. The signing of the loan from ADB took place at the Bamenda Congress Hall on December 16, 2013 in the presence of Cameroons minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi and the ADB was represented by Leonard Sentore. GP DERUDEP Phase II, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi said is expected to boost agricultural infrastructures in some production basins. The project shall concerntrate it activities in high production areas like Santa, Tubah, Widikum, the Mbaw plain, Mbonso etc, The council areas which shall be reached by the project include Santa, Widikum, Ndu, Nwa, Zhoa and Mbiame council areas. And estimated 250.000 beneficiaries(producers, CIGs, Cooperatives) half of which would be women. It is also estimated that the project will enable additional agricultural production of about 37.000 tonnes. More so, beneficiaries are also expected to witness an increase in their income from 250.000 FCFA to about 370.000 FCFA by 2018. The financing plan of the project clearly spells out that the ADB shall provide FCFA 10.4 billion as loan and FCFA 2.38 billion as grant. On the other hand, Cameroon govrnment shall conribute FCFA 6.59 billion which constitutes about 34% of the total cost of the project. 

Fears abound as to whether half of the money will not be spent in one area. Santa for example with the troublesome irish seed farm maybe the mother sucker of the funds. Yet JB Ndeh, Director of MIDENO and general overseer of the project says since 1982 that government created MIDENO, FCFA 48 billion have been pumped into the region. Yet his critics are asking how much of the FCFA 48 billion has been disbursed to Santa alone?

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

Yong Sport Players on Strike for Unpaid Match Bonuses, JB Ndeh, others Go Hiding

winners of the 2013 Cameroon cup

By Macbright N
At about 8 am on Tuesday morning, fans and supporters of Yong Sport had cued up at the Matazin gate to welcome the heroes of last Sunday’s Cameroon Cup finals to Abakwa. The over 2000 man-crowd started smiling the rat when after three hours of waiting there was no sign of the players. Information started circulating that the players were on strike for unpaid match bonus. Small groups could be spotted as everyone was trying to get first hand information on what was going on and why the lateness. Within thirty minutes, the population scattered the crowd which had gathered at the Matazin gate scattered. In the next few seconds, Bamenda caught cold of the sad news. Bamenda which had gathered momentum to welcome the heroes back to Abakwa went to the slum to Christmas activities. The Mankon Municipal stadium which was half-full emptied self in the minutes. And the discussions on the dilemma of Yong Sport Academy players moved into beer palours, snacks and Mbuh drinking spots.

When another piece of information started circulating that team officials finally sneaked into Abakwa with the trophy, Abakwa caught the second cold. At about 3pm, classified sources hinted that the Governor of the North West Region, Adolphe Lele l’Afrique and Faustin Domkeu finally brokered a peace deal with the players. Upon their arrival in Bamenda, the players held a crisis meeting with North West Governor. John B Ndeh, FECAFOOT Boss for the North West who allegedly went into hiding resurfaced at the Governor’s office alongside Kaba Christopher and Fortibu Hilary we were hinted.

It is also alleged that the players had threatened to stage a protest march to the Prime Minister’s residence when they got wing of the information that some team officials left Yaounde on Monday night laving them in the nation’s capital. The march to meet the Prime Minister was finally annulled when the disappointed players received promises that their problems would be later in the day. The journey to Bamenda on Monday night was canceled. Allegations abound that the players were claiming match bonuses estimated at a million FCFA each and instead they were each handed a hundred thousand francs each. Yong Jacque, son of Pa Yong allegedly did all he could to ensure that the players had their dues. Allegedly, he had promised that the amount would be disbursed by Thursday but the players rejected. 

Public opinion in Bamenda is aghast with North West FECAFOOT officials for playing the game of the mastiff during the crisis. JB Ndeh and co have been accused of haven neglected their role. Many have questioned why NW FECAFOOT offficials traveled to Bamenda and hastily organized a reception for no work done. Another school of thought holds that some of these officials are more interested in the positions and what they turn to gain than the welfare of players as well as football development. However, NW Governor Lele L'Afrique has been applauded for the role he played in solving the crisis. 

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

University of Buea to Honour President Paul Biya with PHD in Political Science

 By Fai Cassian

Paul Biya

As preparations intensify ahead of the 50^th Anniversary of Reunification scheduled for Buea, regional capital of the South West, classified sources have confirmed that one of the outstanding ceremonies has been slated to take place at the University of Buea.  The ceremony which shall be the first of its kind since the creation of the University of Buea is expected to spark other hot debates on President Biya’s merits and demerits in politics. According to the hint all is set for the Head of State, President Biya to receive a Doctorate Degree in Political Science. Another confidential source at the University of Buea has also confirmed that for once the institution will be honoured with the visit of the number one man of the nation. Renovation work, we gathered has stepped up. Prof. Fame Jacque Ndongo, we were reliably told is expected in Buea next week to finalize the arrangements. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea for fear of the unknown allegedly placed over 3,000 students on stand-by should in case the Presidency announces that the celebrations will take place during this festive period when students are on vacation.

Yet, dark clouds loom large as on February 6, 2013 some students wrecked havoc on campus. The one-day strick led to the disruption of classes for weeks, the arrest of four students and the kidnapping and torturing of the UBSU leader for 10 days by unknown assailants. The strike we learnt was motivated by the lack of photocopying machines on campus, low premiums given to students after March pass, insufficient businesses on campus among many other grievances. With President Paul Biya to receive a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Political Science, prospects abound that the University of Buea could be given special consideration so that some of its numerous problems are solved. This, we gather will give President Biya the opportunity to visit the institution since its creation. Created in 1993 as the only English-speaking University in Cameroon and conceived in the English-speaking tradition, the University of Buea seeks to foster the essence of that system, while situating itself within the larger bilingual and multicultural context of Cameroon. It is located in the historic town of Buea, former capital of German Kamerun, former capital of the federated State of West Cameroon and now the provincial capital of the South West Region of Cameroon. Although the University draws its students mainly from the English-speaking part of Cameroon, it also serves the other provinces of the country.

The mission of the University of Buea is to provide opportunities for quality education through teaching and research in an environment that is conducive to such pursuits and in ways that respond to market forces. The University is dedicated to the continuous quest for excellence, the promotion of moral and human values, and service to the community. Its teaching and research programmes emphasize relevance, encourage tolerance and promote creative, critical and independent thinking.

The University of Buea is dedicated to the provision of programmes of study and research of the highest standards. It also produces high quality graduates with skills to satisfy the ever increasing demand of the Cameroonian, African and international job markets. The academic staff hold advanced qualifications and several possess international reputations. The student population is over 12,000, including over fifty who are physically and visually disabled. Adequate welfare provision for this later category of students remains both a challenge and a priority for the university administration.        

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

Press Release-2018 Presidential Hopeful Meets SCNC Faction Leader

  Press Release

 

A major part of my 2018 Presidential election manifesto is to at least reconcile the legal integral components of Cameroon for effective sustainable progress – Hence today, 14 December 2013, I, Felix Teche Nyamusa, SDF 2018 presidential hopeful (pending primaries) paid a visit to the Chairman of one of the major factions of the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC), Mr. Thomas Nwanchan in his Bamenda office.  SCNC, it is worth mentioning, is a group of Cameroonians said to be representing the people of former British Southern Cameroons. Her leadership is often at loggerheads with the governing CPDM regime leaders - they sued the Biya CPDM government in an International Court (Africa Rights Court at Banjul) and a ruling was passed.

I initiated discussion with chairman Nwanchan on the way forward of united Cameroon. The discussions are continuing. SCNC and sister organisations are today gunning for total independence of her people because of unending insincerity and bad governance of the CPDM regime.

          As a pan Cameroon, pan Africa advocate and in line with policies of my party, SDF, my manifesto for the presidency is pitched on good governance and due process of law. Basic literature of our Fatherland points out clearly that this nation is made up of two former United Nations trust territories (former East Cameroons and former British Southern Cameroons). Another dissenting group, fellow Cameroonians, is one called the UNO state of Cameroon whose members Cameroon state securities have of recent intermittently detained and released, has emerged. Besides these, minorities like the Borrorros and Pygmies have complaints that have to be addressed adequately – these people with their respective worries, I pledge to interact with in order to sort out unanimous solutions before the 2018 elections year. For a successful developing and emerging-from-poverty country, the various components of the country must be properly handled.

          Nyamusa, your presidential servant for 2018 will move to the leaders of former La Republique du Cameroun and those of former British Cameroons so to together weave an accepted workable contemporary Cameroon project. It is my belief that even the worst mistakes or wrongs committed can be corrected where there is a political will!

          A few years back, the CPDM leadership of this country was reportedly instructed by the African Rights Court to dialogue with SCNC and sister body – SCAPO. Till date nothing meaningful has been done, we are told. Authorities of this nation likewise the complaining components keep on spending huge sums of money on litigations, arrests in attempt to contain each other yet the country remains poor and backward with respect to even ABC like roads, electric power and clean drinking water.

          We scheduled a leadership and good governance talk in Bamenda December 13, 2013 but surprisingly the regime panicked for inexplicable reasons – the D.O Bamenda II, Peter Itoe Mbongo, who was to approve the application insisted, after about one week delay on us getting acceptance note from the owner of the hosting venue P.C Musang whose Sunday School hall her Pastor had earlier given tacit approval and we indicated on the D.O’s application letter. Due either to state intimidation or otherwise, the clergy failed to furnish us with the DO’s request – this, coupled with the sluggish procedure of getting even minor things like meeting approval from Cameroon authorities, forced the organising committee to carry forward the meeting to a later date which will be adequately publicised. This will be done after having the venue owner authorisation signature as demanded by the D.O and proper reconvening of lecture resource persons. This said, the talk organising committee expresses in-depth apologies to public curiosity for the delayed summit.

          Permit me, folks, to conclude by wishing the SDF leadership, SDF militants, sympathisers and lovers of democracy and all Cameroonians in general a happy end of year 2013 and a prosperous 2014. Meanwhile, with utmost solemnity, I formally crave our fallen hero, the father of modern Africa, Nelson Mandela a deserved rest in the Lord and for the rest of Africa and the world to maintain his towering legacy of “Truth and reconciliation”.

 

God guide Cameroon

 

Felix Teche Nyamusa, 2018 Cameroon Presidential hopeful.

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

Yong Sport Academy Beats Canon to Win 54 Edition of Cameroon Cup

 The finals of the Cameroon Cup took place at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in the presence the Head of

YOSA

State, President Paul Biya. The match beating Yong Sport Academy of Bamenda alias YOSA against Canon of Yaounde was a clash of the titans. After 90 minutes of play, both teams recorded no goal. Canon 0 - Yong Sport 0. 
There was no test for extensions of 2 x 15 minutes because, apparently, the lack of appropriate lighting at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé obliged match officials to decide other wise.  Both teams therefore went directly to the ordeal of the penalty shootout. The players of Yong Sport were perfect in their kicks and the final score, Canon of Yaounde 1-Yong Sport Academy 4. 

It should be recalled that this was the first participation of Yong Sport at the Final of Cameroon Cup. More so, Yong Sport qualified after beating JMS of Loum in the semi-final. Created in 2004, Yong Sport Academy moved to Division One in the 2008-2009 Interpools and since then had always found itself in the leading first 7 clubs in the country. Francis Yong, President/Founder of Yong Sport has been applauded by the population of Bamenda and the entire North West Region after the brilliant win.

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