Full Text of President Biya's Speech to Cameroonian Youths

My dear young compatriots, 

President Paul Biya

Last year, under the same circumstances, I told you that I was aware of your doubts and worries about an uncertain future. But I added that we had reason to hope and that, to me, the country’s prospects seemed brighter.

Recent trends in employment statistics seem to bear me out.

The 2013 forecasts for new jobs stood at 200 000. The number of jobs actually created was about 12% higher, reaching nearly 225 000. Private enterprises in various sectors, alone, provided 165 000 jobs. For its part, the Administration, through its different branches, provided 60 000 jobs.

Higher targets have been set for 2014. With the possible increase in the country’s growth rate, we hope to create more than 250 000 new jobs. Of course, this will not benefit only the youth. However, one can surmise that they will be the main beneficiaries.

This vision stems from a logical analysis of the situation of our economy which is expected to grow by about 5% in the coming months. In this regard, I expressed my view a few weeks ago. I still believe that we can do better. I am strongly convinced that we will.

My dear young compatriots,

In this race for growth which, in 20 years, should set our country on the path to economic emergence, you have a vital role, a crucial role to play. 

In the coming years, who will build our:

-major energy, agricultural and industrial projects; 

-road, port and aviation infrastructure; 

-water supply and electricity distribution works; 

-thousands of low-cost houses; 

-hospitals and health centres; 

-primary and secondary schools and universities? 

You, of course, my dear compatriots.

Therefore, you should right now start preparing yourselves seriously for this task, whether in primary school, secondary school or university. We need and will need thousands of skilled workers, qualified technicians, excellent engineers, competent accountants and salespersons, and so on. Our educational system at its different levels had already opted for professionalization. We will soon witness its impact, which you will find remarkable.

Those who have already entered the work force and who are practising the trades learned “on the job” will need more training opportunities. As we expect a revival of our economy, we should be capable of meeting the demand for many specialists in various trades. We can no longer be content with supplying mere labourers, leaving the best jobs to others. Such better-trained professionals will join the ranks of craftsmen who are in high demand.

Last year, using the example of motorcycle taxi riders who play an obvious social role, I underscored the need to organize this profession. I am pleased to note that government services, following consultations with stakeholders, have developed a collective mentoring programme. By so doing, motorcycle taxi riders will be able to participate more - and better - in our national development projects.

This programme involves various aspects of this profession, notably training, management and organization. Perhaps this experiment can be replicated in other informal sector activities.

My dear young compatriots,

I equally expressed my concern about the decline in public morality in our country. I deplored the fact that the youth, who are our most valuable asset, our future and the future of our country, have not been spared. I commend Government’s prompt response to this alert through the holding of an international conference on the theme in Yaounde. Its ambitious objective is to “make Cameroon an exemplary country. This objective concerns us all to the utmost level: parents, teachers, religious authorities.

Respect for public morality also means commitment to national integration which is the cement of our Nation. Furthermore, it means attachment to the rules of democracy, a model that we have chosen in order to build a just and cohesive society. This affords me the opportunity to hail the high turnout of the youth in the election of 30 September and the election of some of their peers into the National Assembly and council executives.

I also wish to express my satisfaction with the refocusing of the activities of the National Civic Service for Participation in Development Agency. The new leadership in place should improve the mentoring of the first 6 000 volunteers trained. In this regard, I also wish to recall that in 2013, the Rural and Urban Youth Support Programme with its Youth Socio-economic Integration Project through the Manufacture of Sports Equipment, contributed, through its supervision, to creating 1 000 jobs. These came to add to the 225 000 that I mentioned earlier on.

Regarding the general youth policy, I would like to welcome the election of new executives of the National Youth Council at both the national and local levels. Through these elections, which were conducted satisfactorily, the Cameroonian youth showed that they are part and parcel of our lofty vision which is to make Cameroon an emerging country by 2035. In this respect, the Government has established more than 400 multi-purpose youth promotion centres in subdivisions and divisions. Such mobilization will continue in the months ahead.

My dear young compatriots,

As you can see, things are happening in Cameroon. The momentum is building and it is irreversible. You will be its main actors

Before concluding, I would like all of us to go fifty to sixty years down memory lane. This is History, you may say. Yes, but perhaps we have not learned all the lessons from it.

During that period of turmoil, those who dreamed of independence and national unity were young people like you. They differed in many respects: ideology, party, strategy and tactics. But the goal was clear: FREEDOM. And many engaged in this struggle putting their lives on the line.

Today, the stakes are different. Although the commitment I expect from you does not require you to make the ultimate sacrifice, it is nonetheless crucial. It is about enabling our country to reach a level of development such that every Cameroonian can: live decently on his work, raise his children properly, and have decent housing and protection from disease.

My young compatriots, such is the task before you.

When, in a few weeks, we celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of Reunification which complements our Independence, I urge you to spare a thought for those who sacrificed their lives for you to be able to live in a society of freedom and progress.

Happy Youth Day to you all.

Long live Cameroonian youth!

Long live Cameroon!

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

Minister Gets Shocking Revelations on How Youths are More Interested in SCNC

By FC Junior

It was during the official launching of activities of the 48^th Youth Day Celebration in the North West Region that Youth Affairs Minister Ismael Bidoung Mpkatt was told the truth that youths have developed more interest in joining secessionist movements than the Cameroon National Youth Council-CNYC. The Minister of Youth Affairs who braved the bumpy stretch of the Ring road to launch Youth Day activities in Wum, Menchum Division was taken aback when he was told that the Southern Cameroons National Council-SCNC has swept away the minds of many youths. Donga Mantung Delegation which was led by Abanda Marcel confirmed that many youths have acquired UNO State/SCNC cards and that there is massive recruitment into the movement given the scramble that has been observed. In addition, Ismael Bidoung Mpkatt was also told that those recruiting youths into the movements have promised jobs and the creation of small enterprises where youths will be stakeholders.

In a shocking mode to the revelation, Ismael Bidoung Mpkatt called on North West youths to take their responsibilities as leaders to educate their peers on reasons why they should not adhere to the ideologies of a separatist movement. Delegations from other Divisions also confirmed that the euphoria by youths in joining SCNC has increased at an alarming rate. A delegate for Mezam confidentially told this reporter that majority of the youths say that SCNC and or UNO State is the only solution to the Anglophone marginalization in this country. As for another delegate for Boyo youths are very reluctant in the activities of the Cameroon National Youth Council. “Some youths even look at us as spice for the government”.

In a phone conversation with the President of the Cameroon National Youth Council, Donga Mantung Abanda Marcel, he said that he also told the Minister that as leaders they are doing their best to educate their peers especially at this point in time that much is being said about national integration. “We also told the minister that there are a lot of human rights abuses in our Division. Soldiers even brutalize us and some go as far as calling us Biafras. We equally invited the Minister to launch the Youth day in Nwa considering that there are 5 villages from Nigeria that were handed to Cameroon around Yang area and the youths of these village don't feel belonging to Cameroon”, he emphasized. In addition Abanda Marcel also revealed that Donga Mantung also submitted 25 projects to the Minister for funding. The projects he said are aimed at mitigating the mad rush into the SCNC and also to empower youths economically given that poverty and unemployment are the root causes. Abanda Marcel also revealed that each member of his delegation contributed 15.000 FCFA for transportation excluding lodging and feeding. He also reiterated that it was MINEPAT Divisional Delegate for Menchum that gave them 5.000 FCFA before they could afford to buy water. He lamented that they left Wum as they came hoping that the Ministry will respond positively to their submissions.

Harping on the mobilization ahead of February 11 celebrations in Nkambe, Abanda Marcel CNYC Donga Mantung has received not a dime from the Divisional Delegation, Regional or the Ministry to mobilize youths. He said at the level of the elite(s) only Madame Achidi Achu Judith supported them with T-shirts and a sum of 30.000 FCFA. He also added that Gerard Ngala also called few hours ago telling him that he has to offer tem snacks to take after march-pass.  Senator Jikong Stephen, Marcel disclosed had promised to support them with a sum of 50.000 FCFA and also requested that they should give him any of their project for funding. “But we are still to get back to him”. Apart from these three elite(s), The Eye gathered that others elite(s) are so self-centered that they see nothing good in anything except in the form of bread for their personal or family consumption. Some of them have even been tagged with names such as Japanese handbrakes given that they are even stingy to themselves. On the organization, he said CNYC is part of organization but is never part of the management.  “In the days of SDO Nzeki Theophile, CNYC use to have small allocation to mobilize youths but today there nothing”. It should be noted that the Cameroon National Youth Council is more of a ceremonial outfit than a setup to empower youths. The Eye is aware that since creation, the Cameroon National Youth Council has no Divisional structures and not to talk of running credit. Allegedly some youths who joined it thinking that it was a chop-pot finally throw the towel to the dogs and left.

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

Youth Day Euphoria: Freedom is Coming Tomorrow (Writam-Pen Part Three)

From the suit of Writam-Pen

February 11, 2014 is at hand and as usual the sugar cane festival is gathering momentum in villages nationwide. As a tradition, the speech of President Biya will be broadcaster to the listening of the officials at the various grandstands while the youths who are concern are being battered under the hot sun in lines waiting for their turn to march, sing and pour panegyrics on President Biya. By the end of the day, children will be going back to their homes with everyone holding a log of sugar cane. Ask them the content of the message from the head of state and none will tell you. With the coming into the scene of the new group of covenant (I mean a government creation to control youthful minds) popularly known as the Cameroon National Youth Council this year's 48^th Youth Day celebration will be another feast of personality cult to applaud President Biya. Banners will be exhibited to thank government and especially Paul Biya for the empty promises. Hypocrisy, indeed!! Whenever I look back at this day which was instituted in 1966 by former late President Ahmadou Ahidjo it takes my memories to the story of the fascinating South African-American film “Sarafina” which combines the typical traditional African sensibilities with the bad fate fancy promises that a free society offers to youths such as “Leaders of Tomorrow, Freedom is Coming Tomorrow, etc”. Even though this celebration was initiated in 1966, President Paul Biya for example has addressed youths for the past 31 years. And for the 31 years he has always said that better days are coming tomorrow. Yet many tomorrows have come and gone with no better tomorrow. Implicitly, many have died without seeing that promised better tomorrow or tasted the position of leadership that was promised yesteryears. In the funeral sermon to youths in “Sarafina”, the preacher tells disgruntled youths that “they fear you because you are young; they fear you because you are the future. How powerful you must be that they fear you so much. You are powerful because you are the generation that will be free of violence, the beatings, the tortures, the killings, all these is the bad fate of our free nation. Please grow up and live with it but if I don’t, I see now on your faces like the light of the rising sun that might have lived within me if I too was young again. And I know that freedom is coming tomorrow”. It is therefore very obvious that a nation that doesn’t take the future of youths into consideration is building a foundation on sand.

Youth Day nowadays in my humble opinion could be likened to “Sarafina” because it brings land from afar to close range, traces not only the great injustice in Cameroon but above all, the moral dilemma of generations with distorted history. Indeed, many Cameroonians do not understand why the Youth Day is celebrated on February 11, just like me too. The question is whether it is out of fear that this day was dedicated for youths because if I am not deadly wrong, 11 February was the date a plebiscite, a day during which the former British Cameroons and Northern Cameroons were to decide their fate to either gain independence by joining the Federal Republic of Nigeria or La Republique of Cameroon.

The approved history syllabus for school teaches us that on February 11, 1961, the Southern British Cameroons opted to join French Cameroon while their counterparts in the North cast their votes in favour of joining the Nigerian. This is a fact. But how many youths know this fact.

I was also told by my father that Youth Day was a special day in the then West Cameroon and it was celebrated every October 26. He said before they use to celebrate Empire Day but barely a year after the Plebiscite, John Ngu Foncha, West Cameroon's Prime Minister at the time, recommended that it was befitting to dedicate West Cameroon's national day to its youth on whom the future State depended. It is not clear if this recommendation was debated in the assembly but it was enforced that same year.

On 26 October 1962, the first "Youth and Sport" day was organised in West Cameroon. There is no doubt that at its initiation, gargantuan significance was ascribed to the Youth Day by West Cameroonian politicians, traditional leaders, civil servants and the public. Yet in today’s Cameroon, the activities of Youth Day are all reduce to march-passes and sporting activities.  Hardly do we hear of round-table discussions, debates and historical talks on the trends of the history of this nation. Yes, the politician dictate and the youths listen to clap. Can we then conclude that all this is the bad fate of our free nation?  

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

Gossips from Camer (Part Two)

By Writam-Pen

My People, I salute everyone! Last week when I said that this country is sick some people who are guilty to have contributed to the mess could not allow my phone to rest. I was obliged to swift off my phone to preserve my battery. Do not be afraid. Am I not a free man and by the way, who is going to arm-twist with me? They are the ones who are trying to mask the skeletons in their cupboard not me. I hear our MPs stage another protest for unpaid salaries. You know ever since they were elected they have not received their car loan which ranges from 35 million FCFA for Bureau members to 8 million FCFA for hand clappers. This is the third time that MPs have gone on rampage in 2 years. The first strike was on the reimbursement of car loan, the second was on the extra car allowances during the extension of their mandate and this third strike on non-payment of salaries and car loans. I hope you are aware that after the first strike, the car loan became non-refundable unlike before that only Bureau members used to enjoy the privileges.

I say ehn! FECAFOOT don turn na FECAFOOD. Another incident has just happened that makes me unwell of this country.  In fact, I do not know whether I should be crying or smiling over the issue. However, I know that my detractors will climb on tree tops to defend the epileptic regime for selfish purpose. What I have observed is that the main problem in this country is that of marginalization. The latest scandal of the week is that Masso Yo, the chairman of the Normalization Committee of FECAFOOD, oh sorry I mean FECAFOOT published the list of media organs to cover the upcoming football jamboree in Brazil. And for your information, Massa Yo and his team just demonstrated that FECAFOOD is a chop-pot reserve only for Frogs and not Anglos. They have officially declared the Cameroon food-ball (I mean football) federation is a no go zone for Anglos. This is so because no English Speaking media organ features on the list of names of media organs submitted to FIFA to cover the June 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Is this not another mark of gross marginalization? Or could we call it tribalism? Remember that the same Frogs used JB Ndeh to chase away Iya Mohammed. When time came for JB to take over the management of FECAFOOD, Massa Yo cooked up a scheme with the royal blessings of Sebb Blatter to dive in through the window under the guise of Normalization Committee. I think if you have never ever heard of a country where meritocracy is a taboo, come closer to Cameroon and you will be able to write books.  Anglophone Sport reporters of the print media are raising hell and threatening to boycott all FECAFOOD activities. I hear, their association wrote to FIFA and Monsieur Sebb Blatter replied that his hands are tied and that he cannot pork-nose into national issues. Is this not the same Sebb Blatter who ordered for the putting in place of the normalization committee? Food-ball na really mafia. This is something serious especially as it is happening at this point in time that much is being talked about reunification. 

Talking about reunification, it is now clear that Popol will not be in Buea on February 11, 2014 predicted by your writam-pen. Speculations as to whether Popol will present his 31^st script to the youths from the former capital of West Cameroon have come to null. Buea catches fire again. Over 25 houses were consumed by fire. I am sure Popol will make a Presidential largess to the victim especially now that the CPDM has been mobilizing militants to come out in their numbers to come out and march on youth day. You see that Popol has decided to politicize almost everything. I know you may be wondering how political parties will march on Youth Day. Take it easy, you know le Cameroun, c’est le Cameroun. Since Popol has maintain seal lips on the exact date of reunification celebration, no one knows whether this will be all about the reunification or it is just Part One that will be celebrated in all the sub divisional headquarters nationwide. I hear the Divisional Officers and Senior Divisional Officers will be swimming in gombo. Popol has decided to deep his hand into the state treasury to fruit bills for the organization of the event. Yesterday February 8, clean-up campaigns were organized in all the major towns nationwide. I even spotted gendarmes and police parading the street with riffles as if we are in the old days Bagdad or present Syria. Do not ask me the significance of Youth Day because I don’t know and I don’t even want to know. Poor youths!

Weh! Before I forget let me use this opportunity to say Happy Youth Day to all young Cameroonians including those who will be 50 years old on February 11 and I also beg your pardon to Happy Birth Day to Popol who clocked 81 years this week. We are blessed.

I don bad for Prime Minister Yang e village. Guess what? While other youths were busy preparing for Youth Day Celebration, I hear students of GBHS Elak-Oku went on rampage due to lack of teachers. But Prime Minister Yang was smarter than them. Yang to foil the strike immediately ordered for 11 teachers to be transferred to the school. The student had threatened to burn down the school building. A friend of mine hinted me that other schools in the North West Region are also threatening to go on rampage for the same motives. As you all know, Popol and co only know one language, strike.

As youths are preparing to celebrate Youth Day on February 11, a French Language newspaper has just revealed disturbing figures about the unemployment rate in the country. The paper says over 1 million Cameroonians are jobless with over 80% of them being youths.

Massa Popol get too much headache these days. Vanessa Tchatchou whose child was stolen at the Yaounde Reference Hospital has written to Popol. She is still after her stolen baby. This time I hear heads will roll.

I am sure you most have got the latest info about the former President of FECAFOOD, Iya Mohammed. The man has spark fire from his Kondengui prison cell decrying that he is being maltreated as if he is a highway robber. These magidas are becoming a real headache to Popol. The other it was Marafa Hamidou Yaya who after series of open letters resurfaced in Jeune Afrique. I hear Popol is having sleepless nights with them. Last week, a conference on late President Ahmadou Adhijo was announced for Garoua. Ngola (Yaounde) immediately caught cold. The organizers we hear were interrogated by elements of the Judiciary Police for public disorder. I hope you know Dr. Aminatou Ahdijo, the daughter of late President Adhijo who campaigned for Popol’s CPDM at the last September Municipal/Legislative Elections. Wicked whispers say she was spotted in a hotel in Ngola patiently waiting for compensation from Popol. Surely, she is waiting to be appointed minister. Now that Popol is back in the capital city, there is total panic in government sphere. Ministers, Minister Delegates, Secretary of States, Directors of State Corporation are panicking. I hear the marabouts are making huge money from them. Weh, this country get fever.

My people as I was trying this piece a friend of mine sent me a text message indicating that the Anglophone Community is hit again by an untimely death. He also mentioned that our big sister; Mafor Yah Yefon Ama Tutu Muna, Minister of Arts and Culture has lost a close member of her family in a ghastly motor accident. This is really sad. What can we do to stop these reckless truck drivers of HYSACAM from killing innocent Cameroonians?

God’s time they say is the best. You know Popol always spring surprises. Last week, when into his score board of Green, Red and Yellow to replace the red card which catapulted Bebang Chumbow to the post of Board Chairman of Dschang University to the detriment of Senator Bochong Francis Nkwain.

Boko Haram is on the lead again. A Canadian priest almost fell into their trap last week. I am sure they should be regretting that they missed a golden opportunity to make fcfa billions. Massa, with the high unemployment rate, I hear China, India and Korea will invest close to FCFA 1.2 trillion. This is big money. I hope they will not employ only their own people. Away from that rumours abound that Set Mobile is at the brinks of collapse. Somebody, help! Help! Let this not happen.

I almost forgot about the trumpeted bilingualism in Camroon. Our little bilingualism is much of a window dressing that it begins and ends in two days every year. Why are these guys disturbing our children on this issue of bilingualism? I will not hold my breadth a second to say it is a mess. I heard children singing songs and reciting in languages that they do not even understand what they are saying. Bye-Bye….C U Next Time.   

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

International Human Rights Film Festival Launches Call for Entries for its 4th Edition

Bamenda Human Rights Film and Arts Festival [Fulai-Nabeng Festival], # 4 Open Call for Film Entries Deadline 30th May 2014 A Common Future and the Bamenda Human Rights Film and Arts Festival will be organizing the 4th edition of International human rights film and arts Festival - showcasing films from Cameroon and abroad. After a highly successful 3rd edition last July 2013, we are now accepting film entries to be considered for official programming of the festival of the 2014 edition. The call for entries are for: - Documentaries, preferably short - Feature Films - Short Films - Animation All the films should be translated or subtitled in English. Filmmakers should send their films as soon as possible together with; entry form, stills of film and director’s photograph, bio and filmography attached and send to acommonfuture1@yahoo.com or colbertgwain@yahoo.fr To make sure your films arrive safely and faster by post, we decided that you send us DVD and other materials of your film to Mankon-Bamenda. Please send your films to: Gwain Colbert PO BOX 747 Mankon-Bamenda Mezam Division North West Region Cameroon With a note: No value, for cultural purpose only. The 4th edition of the festival will take place in Bamenda from July 15-22, 2014 and it will be held at community halls and colleges in the municipality. We would kindly ask you to fill in the Entry Form and send it to us by May 30th on post marker along with a DVD other materials of your film. We are waiting for your films to Roll to our Festival! Gwain Colbert Fulai Co-Founder A Common Future www.freetocharities.org.uk/acf www.acommonfuture3.blogspot.com Please forward this email to anyone who may be interested FILM SUBMISSION FORM Please fill out the submission information below and send it to acommonfuture1@yahoo.com or mr_bamenda@yahoo.com. You will receive a confirmation email once your submission has been received. Before submitting your video/Film submissions please take time to thoroughly read our website and blog for a better understanding of what is called a human rights film and also that you agree to our guidelines. Please note: an asterisk (*) indicates a required field Submitting your video(s) means that you agree to the Bamenda Human Rights Film and Arts Festival Rules and Regulations. Original Title: * English Title: * Country: * Year of Production: Running Time: * Colour (Black &White or Coloured): * Black & White Coloured Format (e.g. DV-CAM, Online, etc): * Sound: Type of film: Original Language: * Synopsis* (Limited to 150 words maximum): * Subtitles (English or state other): State human rights theme: Festival History (50 words maximum): (Please give details) Awards: (Please give details) Premiere & Where: First Public screening: Trailer URL: Director/Producer Title: * Full Name: * Company & Address: (Please give details) City: * Phone: * Email: * Website: Biography: (Please give details

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

My dear Uncle Charly, is this all about Journalism? (II and final)

By Franklin Sone Bayen

Franklin Sone Bayen

In 2002 or thereabouts, while working with Radio Reine, I was instrumental in Charly Ndi Chia’s entry into CUJ’s national executive as Adviser at the Mont Febe Monastery in Yaounde. He had been South West Representative for many years. I sold the idea to my pal Clovis Atatah of The Post then and together we mobilized an Anglophone caucus on the spot and marketed our agenda. We also pushed our point, lobbying our Francophone colleagues and on the floor during debates. I had forgotten about this until Uncle Charly reminded me last November in Buea. Prior to that, I had taken part in every CUJ public activity and elective assembly. I have not since then. And there have only been reports of one in over 10 years – the one that may have taken place in 2007, where Ndi Chia became President. Few journalists even knew whether, when and where it took place. That three-year “mandate” ran out in 2010! Ndi Chia’s CUJ executive is into its fourth year of illegality!

I have been this involved because I am a militant of journalism (not the same as militant journalist or Rambo journalist). Militant of journalism is one who is so committed to journalism, he would stop at nothing to uphold it, whatever it takes, including defending the rights of journalists but also watching the watchdog to name and shame bad grains in order to earn more respect and freedom for the rest with good intentions. The militant of journalism defends senior colleagues who, seen to be striving to uphold professional values, come under fire from Tom Sawyers who somehow sneaked into the milieu. The militant of journalism as well pulls no punches faced with those who, seeming to be our heroes, have arrogated to themselves the status of “untouchables” to secure their personal interest to the detriment of the rest of us. The militant of journalism stays close to the profession and keeps an eye on journalism even when by happenstance, he finds himself at a corporate communication job, away from newsrooms. Colleagues on our CAMASEJ mailing list can attest to that. For the militant of journalism, it is all about safeguarding journalism, small way or big way.

The militant or Rambo journalist, on the other hand, is a crusading journalist who still fancies muddy trenches in the age of cyber warfare. Like an American war veteran, he remains prone to combat, gun-totting and bloodletting even when back home at peace time, far from battle fronts. He hallucinates and sees terrorists and marauding armies in innocent school children and civilians going about their quiet enjoyment in pubs, malls and luxury buses. He opens fire on them, using disproportionate force to strike a fly with a hammer. I know some militant journalists who abandon the very newsrooms they are supposed to be managing and only return after their “corporate” engagement has crashed. They are not militants of journalism.

They are militant journalists who, in the age of Journalism Governance (self-regulation, state financing for private media, press cards to define the journalist, etc) rather sing a war song. The militant journalist still delights in shooting Rambo, Bruce Lee and King-kong movies of those days, a decade-and-a-half after Leonardo di Caprio moved movie viewers to tears in Titanic without a gunshot. He is like John McCain who failed in 2008 where Eisenhower, Kennedy and Bush Snr succeeded decades back to impress Americans with war heroism ballads. Ok, McCain was a POW fighting for America in Vietnam in the 1960s, decades ago, just after Barrack Obama had shed his milk teeth. So, when Obama saw grand old McCain on the Republican ticket in 2008, should he have cowed and said, “Oh no! Hillary Clinton come on, this is your race, not mine. I haven’t taken more than basic lessons in politics”? We know who ran and who lost. Americans voted with the times; they were not fooled by old refrains that politicians use to whip up emotions even when they have no answers to problems at hand.

The militant journalist perpetually refers to his time in the trenches as if economic growth is measured by how many bullets an independence war hero or freedom fighter shot at the oppressor. Or rather look at it this way: if Cyril Ramaphosa had questioned President Nelson Mandela over, say, the quality of governance and the lack of decent housing for poor South Africans, would Madiba have made sense to go ranting about his suffering on Robben Island? Or if Ramaphosa had complained about, say, over-taxation of his newly acquired businesses under Mandela’s rule, would Tata have made sense if he had hushed the younger man and reminded him he was only a small boy and should shut up because he was only about shedding his milk teeth when Umkomto we Sizwe was founded? Does the accident of being born decades late make one any less worthy? Does it disqualify anyone of the natural cycle of growing up, maturing, excelling, growing old and dying someday like those born decades before?

Is it not ridiculous and wicked that an effort by younger colleagues to think out of the box and contribute ideas towards the improvement of a venture for the common good even in support of seniors whose hands are presently on the plough, is seen as “oversabi”? Sounds like market women quarrelling or school girls settling gossip palavers after school. Find out who says “oversabi” during those quarrels. Some people are so so at ease being surrounded by idiots or ignorant, “sabiless” people. That way, they forever remain the one eyed man in the country of the blind. But what is “sabi” and what is “oversabi”? You have two eyes, just enough for you to see your way, they say you have four, meaning you see too much. Ish!

If younger ones must not begin to creep and toddle and, when they are more grown up, to run, dribble and score until older ones have gone to the wheelchair, can we be sure of continuity in good time? Shall the young ever grow and emerge in this country? There are some people you respect and others you respect just out of respect. And some of the people you respect have a way of working themselves into the circle of those you respect just out of respect.

I received a handful of calls on Monday, January 20 from people informing me I was on Charly Ndi Chia’s firing line in his article, “NCC SAGA: The Forgotten Cobweb Under An Abandoned Chair” (page 4, The Post, Monday, January 20, 2014). One of the callers read excerpts of the article to me. Another said following Ndi Chia’s analogy, I was Eto’o and he Milla. Yet another said Ndi Chia used such mean language that, had his article been spoken and in Pidgin English, it would have sounded like Awilo’s show (Pidgin English news on LTM TV in Douala, once banned by NCC). He thus urged me to lodge a complaint against Ndi Chia at his NCC.

I will not. I don’t want him banned!

Had I set out to offend Charly Ndi Chia, I should not be surprised to be the subject of his tirade. But for all I understand of modest English language, I neither addressed myself to him in my letter nor did I seek to offend him, if not to address the NCC which is beyond his person. I may have avoided mentioning his name at all, were it not for my fulfilling desire to rebuke my friend Ngah Christian for, among other things, denigrating Ndi Chia and Peter Essoka. Although he opened his article with my name, it is not possible he was referring to me about spreading false rumours, because I did not.

I scratch my head a lot as a bad habit, but I have scratched it a lot more times these past days laughing to myself and on the phone when commentators of Ndi Chia’s article call me, trying to figure out with me what rumours I am supposed to have spread. One of his two highlighted pull quotes could give a clue, though. He wrote: “Journalism of flesh and blood/Cocktail Journalism, for which one of the Publishers whose newspaper was suspended and which the likes of Bayen associated me with in his “Letter to the National Communication Council and The Guardian Post…”

Can referring to a well sourced public declaration by a protagonist be considered as spreading rumour? Ngah Christian has said in a press statement (and perhaps on TV) that he believes Ndi Chia was after him because of rivalry. Christophe Bobiokono of NCC in a press declaration and Benjamin Zebaze of Ouest Littoral speaking on TV media panels have said same. And, by the way, I did not affirm because I personally do not think Ngah’s allegation was defensible. “He claimed”, “He said”, “He said she said” are permissible in reporting. They must not be proven to be quoted, else news reporting would always wait until there’s been a court ruling on each allegation made in the public space. On my own, I rather took the option of leaving loose ends when I wrote: ‘…many in the press corps have concluded – rightly or wrongly – that you were settling scores with your personal critics. Some even say Ndi Chia, Editor-in-Chief of “The Post”, top English language newspaper, was thus shutting out a SUPPOSED rival – “The Guardian Post”. Hmm!’ (Emphasis highlighted.)

Maybe I should sue my English language teachers for deceiving me I know at least some basic English. But it cannot be me Uncle Charly was referring to. However, if it turned out so, I may conclude that my name just tastes good in his sauce. So, my dear Uncle Charly, did you do this just for the sake of our journalism or is there some hidden agenda that will only be exposed later? Your lines ran like you were seizing a long-awaited, calculated pretext to cast doubts over my credentials – which I know you truly do not doubt – to make believe and comfort detractors elsewhere for an objective. Pray they believe the childish falsehood.

But even Uncle Charly can testify from his own diary notes that all my career, especially the part he knows better than others, I have had to deal with people who want to, at the same time live their life and live mine. As if the world or our shared space is always too small for them and me. As if my mother had me too soon, even so many decades late as he says. As if I should hibernate while they live and have two careers – theirs and mine. And it has never been because I lack the talent, knowledge and skills required; on the contrary.

But tell me, when is it too early to have more than basic knowhow and an informed opinion in my own profession? Over 19 years since I first did formal journalism training in JMC UB? Over 17 years since I first reported news in Cameroon Post? Nearly 12 years since I first reported for international media? Nearly 25 years after, as a secondary school boy in GHS Limbe, I first wrote articles for Cameroon Tribune? Some 28 years after I was a laureate in a Radio Buea news casting contest as a Form 3 boy in GHS Limbe, faced with adult competitors?

Oh, come on! They are just worked up because I am not an idiot they can undermine easily. It does not take immodesty to know you are better than the worst and refuse a tag of mediocrity, does it? And they want to make me pay for it. “Situation Room” meetings may be going on now, coordinating ideas from different locations and mobilizing a “Gestapo” since the Fuhrer is angry. Ok, I still have some skin left for their wild dogs to feast on. They may enjoy their meal… while I continue striving to be better than they wish I was.

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

Cameroonians not TB Joshua will save, develop Cameroon!

By Felix Teche Nyamusa, 2018 presidential hopeful

          Folks, Cameroonians, its more than time we use all means to overthrow the CPDM dictatorship. History has not shown any multiparty-state with an enslaving stone-age constitution and a bewildering pro the-ruling-party electoral code like obtained here that escaped Armageddon. With near all Cameroonians particularly the brains and workaholics struggling to emigrate to the Diaspora, we are totally in deep shit.

The Biya government today is an international beggar – with but trivialities accruing from such mean endeavors (begging), it is us Cameroonians including our Cameroon clergy first to standup and say no! Other countries do that and are rescued. The international community including international preachers may only succeed here sequel to indigenous vigorous contest. Hence Chairman John Fru Ndi’s resolve, as explained during the NEC meeting of January 25, 2014 , of contacting foreign priests, including Prophet TB Joshua of Nigeria, for Cameroon woes is trifle coming from the leadership of the nation’s main and fervently cherished opposition party.

With abandoned undeveloped country-sides and barely scanty industries or meaningful corporations to cater for job needs of youths and the capable, burdened with broad daylight intentional destruction of original union goodwill intentions of the two united nations trust territories that make up contemporary Cameroon (La Republique du Cameroun and British Southern Cameroons), the SDF- my party fight for the rule of law and good governance is just. It will benefit all Cameroonians from North to South, from East to West. As SDF presidential candidate (pending primaries) and in line with my party manifesto, I, Felix Teche Nyamusa stand by the contents of my 3^rd January 2014 “Open message to Government” – which is an ultimatum for good governance to this erring endemic regime. Thus with absolute due respect, I call for those of us at leadership position today to be extremely mindful of our prescriptions including opinions to Cameroonians so as not to retard or blur the fight for positive change in our fatherland!

                           May God guide Cameroon .

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

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

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

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