NGWATRA Enterprise Wins 2022 Life Time Media Group Achievement Award as Best Contractor/Construction Enterprise in Cameroon

In flying colors did the Executive Officer of NGWATRA Enterprise who doubles as a renown contractor and a reputable engineer of exceptional class grabbed his award of the year from a battery of Journalists who under the banner of life Time Media group’s Achievements Award decorated him for his selfless services to the nation and his nation building prioress.

 The 10^th Anniversary Award ceremony took place at Talotel Bafoussam on the 25^th of June 2022 under the distinguished patronage of the Governor of the West Region Awa Funka Augustine.

NGWATRA Enterprise as we report, was distinguishably honored exceptionally in Cameroon as best Contractor and construction Enterprise of the year for prompt and quality execution of contracts and for timely delivery. For executing contracts with a human torch, for offering gainful employment to many a Cameroonian youths, for being a model and an exemplary contractor and above all for promoting the private sector initiative and the industrial sector in Cameroon.

Before being Awarded the crown, his Enterprise came under scrutiny by a jury of 25 persons all of different respective works of life who accessed and did the vote counts that awarded him the said mark of honor amongst all other contractors and construction Enterprises nominated for the said award and category in Cameroon.

For the last five years, it must be note, NGWATRA Enterprise has executed well over 50 good contracts, delivered in time and maximum honor.

Speaking to the CEO after the Press Award for excellence he said, the strength behind NGWATRA Enterprise success story in the domains of contracts and construction is about good will and commitment to offer quality services with the fear of the lord. Adding that the Award to his Enterprise is genuine and will serve as a good moral booster.

Scandal in the Church:CBC on the Line “Church Grabbing Pastor” at Daggers Drawn with Executive President

Rev. Dr. Nditemeh Charlemagne Executive President of the CBC

-  -Call Pastor Sam Jato to Order before he Finally Lay Claims of also Owning CBC ( Cameroon Baptist Convention) as he has Tighten Grip on Redeemer Baptist church (RBC) with all Impunity.

Pastor Sam Jato CBC Pastor, head of Redeemer Baptist church (RBC)

My heart bleed as I open the crooks of the matter, but what is mind blowing is that how on earth can a Pastor heading an affiliated Church to a fundamental church be claiming a local church to be his personal property? having even the gods to excite Christians against his own very boss and Pastor colleagues? Wanders shall never end!

What is scandalous about the whole show is that this particular Church Redeemer (RBC) is the lone Church led, founded, and co-funded by NETS amongst three affiliated to the CBC (Cameroon Baptist Convention) in Cameroon that has a particular problem with church leadership. That alone should raise a lot of questions and doubt about the said Pastor Sam Jato.

Where we are coming from, is motivated by the truth and let peace come to reign back in the house of God for the doors of the Redeemed Baptist church sealed by Sub-Prefectorail decision number 025/2022 of 9^th June 2022 to be flanged open for Christians of that local church community area to once more start enjoying church services at Ntaghem quarters Mile 3 Nkwen.

The bitter truth is that, as of the 9^th of June 2022 church activities in that area are on hold until further notice and the will of God must prevail. No amount of justification should account for  why a Pastor should be flexing mussels with a fellow colleague and church leadership. That alone in it’s self is an abomination and an aberration.

As confusion rocks the air, with different shades of opinion cross examining the matter and poisoning the air, all fingers are pointing at one Pastor and the said Church. On why repeatedly the said Christian community under the CBC has come under consistent calls to order or questioning even in the days of Ncham Godwill as Executive President?

The Genesis of the Matter

What must be taken special note of the Church saga is that it dates far back as the days of the predecessor of Ncham Godwill, and the matter had been under sound church leadership control until the said Pastor in question pushed leadership to resort to an administrative police measure to put a final full stop to the outright disorder and confusion deliberately planted to cause chaos in the house of God.

The bone of contention is between two Pastors Rev Nditemeh Charlemagne who is the CBC Executive President and Rev. Pastor Sam Jato head of the (RBC) Redeemer Baptist church a NETS (The New England Center for Church Planting and Revitalization) founded co-funded and affiliated Church to CBC. The axe both have to grind for the moment rest on legitimate claims following CBC established rules and regulations while the Pastor in question is claiming personal ownership over church entitlements. So far, the matter is before the Divisional Officer of Bamenda III Sub-Division Bassilekin George, who sealed the church doors and is presently cross examining both parties to amicably bring to rest the crisis.  

The Position statement of NETS and why the matter has prolonged?

NETS on the matter had made it’s position clear in three different correspondences send to Ncham Godwill and to today’s Executive President Nditemeh Charlemagne with dates; May 26^th, 29^th 2020 and  May 26^th 2022 stating clearly in strong terms that I quote “RBC was clearly planted as a CBC Church” see below all their position statements. So for an individual to be claiming right of individual ownership brings a lot to question and to what extend the said Pastor would have gone to be laying claims over church entitlements.

Where and why Rev Charlemagne has the Legal Religious authority to breed sanity and regulate activities of local church communities affiliated to CBC

The present crisis from our personal finding has over due and the past Executive Presidents have been mild over the matter that is why it has prolonged and has dragged on finally to the public theater where it must be resolved once and for all and let peace regain once more it’s course in Redeemer Baptist church.

Both Pastors Nditemeh Charlemagne and Sam Jato are no nonsense Pastors of the CBC if you want to hear from this Reporter,  they share common threat and are all hard liners. Who will not let go at any given moment until it is settled and done completely. Just as the French Man will say it, “Il ya Match”.

After every thing, it is scandalous and ridiculous for an individual, a Pastor for that matter to be claiming ownership of church properties and entitlements and even going to the extend of fighting church leadership and administration to whom he owes all humble due honorable respect. Even the Bible says it!

As we  report, the scuffle is already one step to the court as a battery of lawyers are already indicating interest or monitoring the matter to jump in and tear the church into pieces. God have mercy.  Affairs a suivre.

 

A Powder Keg Waiting To Explode-Dr Chris Fomunyoh On Hopes and Fears For Cameroon

 

Camerooon is sitting on a powder keg waiting to explode if there is no significant change in direction ,says Dr Chris Fomunyoh

Cameroon is like a powder keg waiting to explode if urgent solutions are not found to the multiple crisis plaguing the country, says Dr Christopher Fomunyoh Senior Associate for Africa and Regional Director at the Washington, DC based National Democratic Institute.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with PAV, Dr Fomunyoh says there is an urgent need for a credible platform that would allow for the legitimate grievances of Anglophones to be addressed head on and resolved.

“As I have said consistently since the beginning of the conflict, the only way out is going to be through a negotiated resolution with third party facilitation, given the hatred and mistrust that now exists among the belligerents, and between sizeable chunks of the Anglophone population at home and abroad and the central government of President Paul Biya,” Fomunyoh charges.

The losses, pain and fear or trauma under which the affected populations live will definitely not be alleviated by further killings and atrocities, not by bayonets and bullets; but by genuine, inclusive and mediated comprehensive peace talks that will get to the bottom of the grievances and bring agreement on solutions with which these populations can identify, says Fomunyoh.

It is extremely disappointing and sad that many of today’s African leaders are failing us, and even some of the good leaders are going along with complicit silence, Fomunyoh says in reaction to a report from the Norwegian Refugee Council indicating that the top 10 displacement crises in the world are in African countries.

In the interview which also harps on post Biya succession scenarios, his own perceived political ambitions, and other developments across Africa, Dr Fomunyoh sees hope  in the younger generation as 60 percent of the population is under 25 years old, and yearning to find a better and more meaningful life and better opportunities for themselves, devoid of the prejudices, wickedness and malpractices of the past.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) just released a report that lists the top 10 displacement crises in the world, and all are in African countries.  As a pan africanist and someone who crisscrosses the continent regularly for peace, democracy and good governance, how do you react to such a classification?

I’m devastated!  You can’t argue with the list which calls out DR Congo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, South Sudan, Chad, Mali, Sudan, Nigeria, Burundi and Ethiopia in that order.  The list is based on hard facts and therefore very painful to see.  It speaks to the reality of the multiple conflicts currently ongoing on the continent, and that are impacting heavily already marginalized and vulnerable populations, especially in rural areas and out of sight of political elites and diplomats who live in capital cities.  On the one hand, this list of ongoing conflicts and internal displaced persons points to poor governance and the failure of national governments and our regional organizations to prevent or resolve conflicts and guarantee the safety, security and wellbeing of citizens; at the same time, it is testament to the fact that the rest of the world and multinational organizations such as the United Nations system seem to have closed their eyes to the havoc occurring in many of the conflict zones across the continent.  It is extremely disappointing and sad that many of today’s African leaders are failing us, and even some of the good leaders are going along with complicit silence.  Every African and genuine friend of the continent should be revolted by these reports and statistics on conflicts, misery and suffering.  For a continent that is so rich in mineral resources and human capital, we are better than being perceived as the permanent poster child for unresolved conflicts and violence that displace millions every year.

Why do you think regional organizations such as the African Union and even the subregional bodies like ECOWAS, SADC, IGAD are not taking on these challenges?

Excellent question!  Some of the subregional organizations such as ECOWAS are doing what they can to pressure leaders in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea to perform better; SADC is active in Mozambique and Eswatini, and its interventions may still produce positive results; but the African Union itself is beginning to lose its luster as the enthusiasm and hopes that accompanied the organization’s launch in 2001 wither.  Many of us now look back with nostalgia at the African Union of former Malian president Alpha Oumar Konare when shared values and human security were guiding principles.  It is regrettable that the era when leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Olusegun Obasanjo, Nicephore Soglo, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Konare and others talked about the peer review mechanism and the African Renaissance now looks so distant.

On the crisis in the North West and South West Regions, the only way out is going to be through a negotiated resolution with third party facilitation, says Dr Fomunyoh

Your home country of Cameroon just celebrated 50 years of the unitary state with some pomp, despite occupying third place on the NRC list.  What’s your reading of the socio-economic and political shape of the country in the wake of that 50th anniversary celebration?

Cameroon is in very bad shape today on multiple fronts as it experiences overlapping and suffocating security, political and socio-economic crises.  There are too many ongoing conflicts and inconsistencies, including around the May 20th date itself.  For some Cameroonians, the abolition of the name the ‘United Republic of Cameroon’ by decree in 1984 took a lot of the veneer off the commemoration of a unitary state.  Still others, especially among the English-speaking population, question the legality of the referendum of 1972, that put an end to the Federation and brought about the unitary state.  Thus is my view, unlike the symbolism of unity that May 20 should hold in Cameroon, that day has come to crystalize the contradictions of our history and destiny.  On top of that, the country is embroiled in an ongoing five year old armed conflict in the North West and South West regions or the former Southern Cameroons; Boko Haram incursions continue in the Extreme North region around the Lake Chad basin; and insecurity persists on the eastern border with a restive Central African Republic.  Add to that internal socio-political tensions and polarization, and the country looks like a powder keg that could explode at any time.

So, is it true that the May 20 event was very chilly or literally nonexistent in many parts of the English speaking North West and South West Regions of the country; and, if so, what should be the take home message from this?

Since 2016, the North West and South regions of Cameroon or what was Southern Cameroons prior to reunification in 1961, have been suffering under grievances related to the marginalization of populations from these areas over the 60 years of experimentation with nation building.  Unfortunately, by 2017, the crisis, initially led by lawyers and teachers, morphed into an armed conflict that has left thousands dead, hundreds of villages burned, close to one million displaced persons, about 70,000 of whom are refugees in neighboring countries, and close to 800,000 children who have been denied access to education.  Under such circumstances, and until there’s a negotiated end to the conflict, it is not humanly possible to have people out feasting on a day that many see as the source of their pain and suffering, or political ills and misfortunes.  Turnout at public events was generally low, especially as armed non-state groups had declared and actually enforced lockdowns in many communities in those regions.

The conflict in the North West and South West Regions has taken an alarming toll on human life and property, as things stand now what do you see as a way out?

As I have said consistently since the beginning of the conflict, the only way out is going to be through a negotiated resolution with third party facilitation, given the hatred and mistrust that now exists among the belligerents, and between sizeable chunks of the Anglophone population at home and abroad and the central government of President Paul Biya.  There’s an urgent need for a credible platform that would allow for the legitimate grievances of Anglophones to be addressed head on and resolved.  The military option which many of us decried from the beginning has not only failed; it has generalized and normalized the kind of violence and atrocities from both sides that we have seen in the past five years.  The losses, pain and fear or trauma under which the affected populations live will definitely not be alleviated by further killings and atrocities, not by bayonets and bullets; but by genuine, inclusive and mediated comprehensive peace talks that will get to the bottom of the grievances and bring agreement on solutions with which these populations can identify.

My greatest hope is in the younger generation yearning to find a better and more meaningful life and better opportunities for themselves, says Dr Fomunyoh

President Paul Biya has been in power for 40 of the 50 years of the unitary state, how much of liability or solution is he or could be in the quest for solutions to the conflict?

At close to 90 years old in a country where the median age is 19 years, and with 40 years as president, Paul Biya has long since missed the opportunity to lead Cameroon out of the conflict; yet the highly centralized jacobin-like system of government that Biya has put in place is such that no one else makes decisions in Yaounde except him.  So, he needs to awaken from slumber to the realization that people have died in the thousands, lives are being destroyed daily, a sizeable percentage of Anglophones believe that he and his regime are bent on destroying their educational and legal systems, and their culture and way of life, and so this conflict needs to end immediately.

Interviewed recently after a visit to Cameroon, the former apartheid chief negotiator Roelf Meyer said ‘genuine and inclusive dialogue could be the only way out of the conflict.’  What role do you think respected international actors such as former minister Roelf Meyer could play in bringing an end to the conflict?

Many Cameroonians were quite touched that an African leader like former South African minister Roelf Meyer would make the time to visit Cameroon and pay attention to the armed conflict where other Africans have been so indifferent and insensitive to this conflict.  Roelf Meyer is a global leader of great stature given the prominent role he played in his home country to bring an end to apartheid and facilitate the release of Nelson Mandela, and even thereafter his role in championing the cause of a new constitution for a new and democratic South Africa.  Many countries around the world reach out to Roelf Meyer regularly to elicit his advice and wise counsel in tackling issues of conflict and difficult transitions.  In fact, shortly after his Cameroon trip, Mr. Meyer flew to Bangkok, Thailand for consultations on Myanmar (Burma).  There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that he and others of his caliber can help us in Cameroon find peace and justice, and an end to this senseless war.  Were Roelf Meyer to step forward, his impeccable credentials would make it difficult for those who have been opposed to negotiations to continue to block the process; alternatively, it would become more obvious who wants the war and atrocities to continue, and hopefully that will make it easier for such individuals to be held accountable for their actions and their profiteering from the crisis.

Back to President Biya, the issue of succession is looming large for obvious reasons.  Can you shed light on the succession mechanisms in place and how important it is for the country to get it right?

I can understand the fretting and hand wringing around Biya’s presidency, because historically, as illustrated by the examples of long serving African presidents such as Houphouët Boigny in Côte d’Ivoire, Omar Bongo in Gabon, Gnassingbé Eyadéma in Togo, and Muammar Khaddafi in Libya, the death of long serving leaders portend chaos and confusion as various factions jockey for position, and some seek to replace him amidst a panoply of grievances that could boil over once the lid is off the simmering pot. As the oldest president in the world, Biya has kept the disparate threads together during his four decades of rule through old style autocratic methods such as patronage networks, excessive corruption and the instrumentalization of the military and security services to squash or repress dissent and extract total loyalty to himself.  Article 6 (4) of the constitution of Cameroon, as amended in 2008, provides that in case of a presidential vacancy, the president of the Senate assumes the seat for between 20 days and 120 days, during which time he must organize elections for a new president.  However, inherent weaknesses in the country’s institutional framework and fervent calls for major electoral reforms may render this constitutional option impracticable, given the country’s very poor track record on adherence to, and implementation of its constitution, respect for the rule of law and the conduct of inclusive, transparent polls under Biya.  There has been an outcry for electoral reform, especially since the last presidential poll in 2018; it is doubtful that opposition parties and civil society would accept a new presidential election without substantial electoral reforms.

Former Presidents Nicephore Soglo of Benin and Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, with Dr Fomunyoh in Guinea.Succession politics is making a bad situation worse in Cameroon

Looking at some of the names being floated out there as potential successors to Biya, the impression one gets is that should Biya not be there today, there are people ready to replace him the very next minute; how concerned should the country be that the constitutional succession pattern may not be followed?

It is no surprise that the poor performance of the current regime, gets many politicians to easily see themselves outperforming the current crop of policy makers.  The sad equation for Cameroon is that many of those most agitated at this time are themselves midgets and dwarfs compared to their underperforming team leader.  They have to understand, as we say in French, that “ca ne passera pas!”  Over the years, the regime has eliminated many of its potential rivals, some political heavyweights languish in prison and others are out of the country.  The few that are courageously resisting the system within the country barely have room to breathe as political space continues to shrink and their voices are muscled or stifled.

Do you think it would be in the interest of the Francophone majority to seriously give thought to prospects of the next President coming from the English-speaking regions as a means of addressing some of the historic injustices and boosting prospects of a new dawn for the country?

If Anglophones feel marginalized now because of six decades of Francophone absolute domination, wait until the next generation is told they’ll have to brace themselves for another hand-picked autocratic Francophone president with zero democratic credentials and perhaps another decade or two of more blatant injustices and governance malpractices.  Even if your question looks surreal for the time being, there are certain historical facts that can no longer be ignored.  For example, right after independence in 1961, many Francophone politicians in the Douala area and the Western region actually hoped there would be new presidential elections and they would back John Ngu Foncha the Anglophone against Ahmadou Ahidjo.  They were disappointed with the arrangement whereby Foncha accepted to become Ahidjo’s Vice president of the Federation without a new election.  Two decades later, prior to Paul Biya becoming president in 1982, the constitution was amended, and the line of succession tinkered with so Biya would become the second personality of the country, instead of the Speaker of the National Assembly S.T. Muna who was an Anglophone.  Ten years later in 1992, in the first competitive multiparty presidential election in Cameroon’s history, the Anglophone candidate John Fru Ndi obtained his highest vote totals in regions that included the Francophone West and Littoral provinces at the time and came close to defeating incumbent Paul Biya.  One can therefore posit that deep down, there is a strong sentiment among even Francophones that a qualified Anglophone at the helm of Cameroon could more effectively get the country out of the mess in which it currently finds itself.  Of course, while the armed conflict persists, thoughts like this one look more like an intellectual exercise than anything else.

Dr Fomunyoh seen here with Senegalese President Macky Sall remains coy about his own personal political ambitions

Your own name has been floated during previous election cycles as a potential Presidential candidate, for all you have done across Africa to help fashion and polish democracies; have you ever thought of dropping everything to go help the country rebuild, if called upon?

I’m humbled the way you pose the question.  Indeed, it is difficult to have my experience and the expertise that I’ve been fortunate to gather over the years, have a human heart and a good conscience, and sit idly by while your people perish and languish in misery and despair.  It’s doubly painful when you realize that most of the ills that you identified and spoke strongly about in the past could have been resolved without firing a shot, and that with one’s exposure to the world and international arena, one could lift up one’s fellow compatriots and give them another lease on a decent lifestyle, and reposition one’s country in its rightful place in Africa and the world.  My position prior to the 2018 presidential poll was well known in terms of not walking into politicking while the blood of innocent citizens was being spilled in a senseless war.  I do believe strongly that in life, one must have one’s priorities right – that too is an indispensable aspect of visionary leadership.

A last question on the future of Cameroon, what are your biggest fears and what gives you hope, will there be a Cameroon after Biya?

Ironically, I have almost no fears left for Cameroon because most of the fears are already being materialized before our very eyes in terms of how broken, polarized, fragmented, and divided the country is right now.  It couldn’t be worse than we’re currently experiencing.  The good news is that ‘countries don’t die’; individuals and regimes come and go, but the people whose resilience is quite legendary will pick themselves up and soldier on.  My greatest hope is in the younger generation as 60 percent of the population is under 25 years old, and yearning to find a better and more meaningful life and better opportunities for themselves, devoid of the prejudices, wickedness and malpractices of the past.  Also, for the very active group that represents 56 percent of the population between 15 and 65 years old, I hope they would draw lessons from the hardships and inferno of the Biya regime and turn the page so we can all work to put out the fires and begin the healing.

By Ajong Mbapndah L curled from PAV Magazine

Ma Margaret Kiki Ngafeesen Finally Laid to Rest

Permanently in the bosom hands of the Lord at Mbiyeh, in Ndu Sub-Division, Donga-Mantung. That was on the 9^th of June 2022 at the family residence in the village observing all tradition rites required.

Mama Njuh Maggie passed onto the Lord on April 21^st 2022 after a brief illness in Bamenda and corpse was taken to Yaounde where the official burial rites were carried out on the 3^rd and 4^th of June 2022 at the son Edmond and husband’s residence in Bastos, Yaounde.

Ma Njuh leaves behind the husband, Pa Ngafeesen Emmanuel Bantar former secretary of State for Penitentiary, the son Edmond a Cadre at SNH, the daughters in the US, grand children and the Ngalla family plus love ones to mourn her existing absence for ever.

Ma Ngafeesen born on the 12 of December 1959 takes a  well deserved rest in the Lord after battling with health for quite a good number of years. She fought a good fight leaving behind plenty a people to regret her unbearable absence.

On that faithful and blessed day to accompany the casket, many a high profile delegation showed up to pay their last respect, comprising of Former Prime Minister Yang Philemon, H.E Shey Jones, H.E Elung Paul, Minister Fuh Calistus, Hon Ngalla Gerard, Prof Paul Ghogomo, CERAC Women etc, who in grand style, ushered Ma Njuh to her eternal resting place with all due honorable respect.

The Ngafeesen's and Ngalla family in deep sorrow and appreciation extend a word of sincere gratitude to all who committed the family in prayers and joined them to give their wife, daughter, sister, grand mother Mama Njuh Maggie a befitting and resounding burial.

 

 

 

Why PM Chief Dr Dion Ngute, Will Remain Memorable in Cameroon History

Coming number ninth (9^th) and the youngest amongst all former Prime Ministers in Cameroon calls for an appraisal of his stewardship for these four years as head of government  since January 2019 assigned to quench the ever growing flames of the Anglophone Liberation War.

Chief Dr Dion Ngute, just the name says it all in eloquent testimony. He has stood the taste of time and remains indelible, that no living soul will deny comparing him to his predecessors. He is by nature endowed with natural leadership abilities and charisma.

What we are saying here in effect is that, he came to the star Building not to challenge the works of his predecessor in the likes of Pa Achidi Achu, Peter Mafanyi Musongue, Ephraim Inoni, Yang Philemon, but to fine tune and build a formidable premise out all the mix ups and entanglements around that corridor of power.

Chief Dr Dione Ngute we are motivated and compelled to put up this exhaustive write up looking at him as PM “The Fire Extinguisher” just like Pa Achidi who was brought in the early 90s to throw water on the rising flames of democracy and SDF’s hegemony that was burning to ravage Cameroon in the next seconds? PM Chief Dr Dion Ngute was appointed in 2019 to salvage and handle the rising flames of the deepening Anglophone Liberation War.

His coming, gave another impetus to the crisis. His sound moral and down to earth approach calmed flaring tempers to an extent. What must be noted is that where it did not work for others, his God defined ways of doing things made it possible for him.

The Grand National Dialogue, is what nobody will ever deny happened in Cameroon just like the (AAC)  that is the all Anglophones Conference under his era, all as a means to look for lasting solutions to arrest or extinguish the burning flames of the Anglophone Crisis fanned by “US”.

As somebody who knows the in and out of the matter from inception, ( that is the Southern Cameroon National Council, SCNC) from where it all started and had to do with lost of confidence in elites before talking of assimilation, Marginalization, and giving the teachers and the common law in Cameroon a common placed value, he seek to rewind confidence by consistently and persistent holding meetings with elites and all those who matters. In fact he is the lone PM who for his short while in office with the crisis, has braved all the odds to come and talk appealingly to the population of the North West and South West Region.

His open door policy, his clean and transparent management style of state undulating duties has put him unparalleled.  That nobody will deny even social critics have come to the conclusion that if this escalating crisis were to be under another PM’s era, it would have long burned Cameroon to ashes. But for his natural God given ways, things have apparently been working for his good, and the situation for now is under control to an extent.

The DDR, the special status, the Regional Council elections and assemblies plus the house of Chiefs all over the Republic are all his brain child. All in the name of advancing Cameroon’s democratic strides to enhance the vivre ensemble spirit in all.

We are not saying that the PM is perfect, we are saying that PM Dr Dion Ngute is a “Cameroon Material” an “old Brum” who knows the inside out of Cameroon, who by his natural karma has worked things out for the regime and the peace and serenity Cameroonians are enjoying to an extent today.

Whether we like it or not, under this present dispensation and predicament, PM Dion Ngute has tried  and as a last resort, attempted all ways if not, through the unorthodox means to transmit the true message and clear picture of the situation on the ground to the chieftain who is surrounded by policy blockers, that you and I know.

On these notes, we can comfortably say on behalf of Chief Dr Dion Ngute that he has tried his best and there are better days ahead as we pray his kind indulgence to remain unblemished and focused irrespective of all the intrigues and manipulation around  him.

 

 

Abednego Primary and Secondary School Graduate Pioneer Batch of Pupils

In pomp and Fanfare at it’s multifaceted school complex at Bambui four corners in Tubah Sub-Division on Wednesday 8^th June 2022.

Where parents, guardians, teachers, love ones and sponsors, plus the school administration gathered to witness and coordinate the sharing of final year results and report cards of graduates who performed excellently well at all levels.

Dancing competition, sketches, presentation of rhymes, drama display, games, prize award and general feasting accompanied the colorful ceremony which marked the end of 2021/2022 school year in Cameroon.

Interesting and worth noting is that the said Abednego Primary and Secondary School is just a years old born inside the Anglophone crisis in Bambui but is recording tremendous impact as the enrollment is mass and the cream of teachers they have, is the best in town. Not to talk of their uniforms and officials out fits.

Speaking to us after the ceremony, one of the teachers and pupils acknowledged that the strength of Abednego Primary and Secondary School is good quality and sound moral education.

The proprietor on his part Check Emmanuel Geh, who doubles as the Sectary General of Tubah Council, thanked God for the push factor and committed the institution, it’s students and staffs on to God. Praying God almighty to continue showering blessings, honor and recognition onto the institution.

The Colbert Factor: Missong-Menchum Massacre: Nine Lives Too Many

'As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods. They kill us for their sports.'

Nothing can ever begin to explain the senseless killing of nine unarmed civilians on the night of June 1, 2022 in Missong, a village near Zhoa in Fungom Subdivision, Menchum Division of the North West Region, than the above declaration by Gloucester in Skakespeare's 'King Lear'.

A statement from the spokesman of Cameroon's Ministry of Defense, Col. Atonfack Cyril, attributes the macabre incident to gross misjudgement by some four elements of Cameroon's elite forces who, fearing their colleague might have fallen into wrong hands, launched a ferocious search and rescue party on that fateful day.

The statement furthered that when the military came across some villagers who seemed uncooperative, (and fearing for their own lives), they disproportionately rained bullets on them. This resulted in nine deaths; four women, four men, and an 18- year old girl. A baby of 12 months old who was also hit by a bullet was immediately rushed for treatment at the Wum General Hospital, according to a statement read over state radio last June 7, 2022.

While sending words of compassion from the Defense Minister, the spokesman revealed that the concerned military men who acted unprofessionally in disrespect of their Code of conduct, had been detained at the Bamenda Gendarmerie Legion, for further questioning and appropriate sanctions meted. 

It is not only intriguing that an incident that took place last Wednesday June 1, could only be acknowledged the following Tuesday week of June 7, but also that Defense authorities are still talking of ongoing investigations. They have not also been in a hurry to tell Cameroonians whether after killing the innocent civilians, the trigger-happy soldiers found their colleaque.

The loss of the nine unarmed villagers in Missong last week is the loss of nine too many. Since the morphing of the crisis into an armed conflict, we have witnessed scene after scene of senseless brutality and abject cruelty. Uniform officers, like armed separatist fighters, take the lives of mortals as thoughtlessly as wanton boys take the lives of flies. So, 'as flies to wanton boys, so are we to the gods. They kill us for their sports.' We have all become only sports to those wielding arms as they kill us for their amusement.

Otherwise, how else can one explain the fact that uniform officers who have gone to a market square to refresh themselves on drinks and just because one of theirs have sneaked out to meet a girlfriend, could lead to the loss of nine healthy lives? Otherwise, how would one explain the fact that the Defense ministry's communique claims that military opened fire because they 'ran into a group of deviant youths' in Missong community? If a professional army could not contend 'deviant' youth, it would only mean 'they kill us for their sports.'

The concerned military men in Menchum Division had behaved like the three adventurous boys in William Golding's novel, 'Lord of the flies', who, after finding themselves in an Island, and suspecting the presence of a weird being, began engaging in unimaginable acts of barbaric destructions. Only after the wanton destruction do they realize that they were suspecting but their shadows. 

Truth be told: The Missong incident was a real triumph of meaninglessness. It suffered the lack of all meaning as it came barely a week after Cameroonians have tossed up celebratory glasses of wine in honour of the rare feat the Defense and Security Forces had performed in securing the release of kidnapped senator Regina Mundi. 

The perception and the mentality of the Cameroon Military at the time of the macabre incident in Menchum Division can best be captured by the Cameroonian-born U.S citizen, Marie Claire Kuja's book: 'False Labels'. Just like white supremacists would falsely label any black as a criminal in the U.S, an average Cameroonian uniformed Officer sees in every Anglophone in front of him, an amba fighter that needs to be put out of the way.

It is the same scenario in Nathaniel Hawthorne's book: 'To Kill a mocking bird', where a  white American family living in a black neighbourhood accuses  a black handicapped young boy bogged down to a wheelchair, of raping their over 30 year-old daughter. Despite proof to the country presented in court by one of the community's best lawyers, the white supremacist Court sentences the poor boy to imprisonment with hard labour.

That is how, if not of that fact that human 'blood is thicker than water', the results of Government's belated communique on that incident would have been that the 'deviant' youths were separatist fighters.

Faced with such mounting and senseless killings from both sides, the only thing left now is to ask the kind of hard question on purpose ace musician, Charles Blackman, asked in similar challenging circumstances: 'Shall we keep on living this way?' How many more people must die before the senseless war comes to an end? 

That's the question.

*Colbert Gwain is digital rights activist, author, radio host, Commitment Maker at UN Generation Equality Coalition, and content creator @TheColbertFactor

WAIT! BEFORE YOU GO ON about your daily chores, ask yourself: How likely is it that the content you just consumed would have been created by a different news outlet if The Colbert Factor hadn't done it?

Just think of what the media landscape in Cameroon today would look like without The Colbert Factor thinking out of the box. Who would accompany you in challenging the boundaries of conventional thinking? Who would help you relive John Naisbitt's paradym's shift to the effect that: 'The new source of power is not money in the hands of a few, but information in the hands of many'?

There's no gainsaying the fact that the kind of content we create not only helps in putting the right information in the hands of many, but is also necessary for democracy. It emboldens us to uphold our freedoms and inalienable rights.

In these perilous times, a truth-seeking and informative local news organization like The Colbert Factor is essential. But,  it's not easy, cheap or profitable. The Colbert Factor is a solution-oriented, independent non-profit content creation medium. It serves as the 'first draft' for newspapers, radio and TV stations, online news outlets and blogs. We don't have ads and we are independent of corporate and government interests. 

You can help us continue creating more investigative, balanced, fair, reliable, credible and educative content, by donating your widow's mighty mite through MTN momo number: 677852476

...And you would be contributing to a free press.

BUNS,BOFAS to Rehabilitate Yaounde to Bamenda Road with Military Aid

The Cameroonian companies Buns and Bofas have just won new contracts worth CFA35.8 billion overall to rehabilitate sections of the Yaoundé-Bamenda road.

In detail, Buns will focus on the route from Matazem to the “Welcome to Bamenda” place. The section is 18.05 km long and work is expected to last 18 months. The company will take CFA21.52 billion to execute this project. The second company, Bofas, will take CFA14.32 billion to renovate the Bamenda up-hill station Bypass road. The line is 4.9 km long and work is set to last 15 months.

As a reminder, Buns had already won a CFA13.8 billion contract for the Babadjou-Matazem road (17 km), which also is a section on the Yaoundé-Bamenda axis. Rehabilitation work on the Yaoundé-Bamenda road began in 2017 but had to stop on January 14, 2021, following an attack by separatists in the Northwest. Sogea Satom, which was the bid winner, withdrew from the project because the sites became too unsafe. To ensure the resumption of work in a safe environment, the army committed last March to send forces on the ground for the duration of the work.

The road rehabilitation project received $192 million (CFA113 billion) from the World Bank. It was initiated to put an end to accidents and reduce transport costs as well as transit times on the road. Cameroon Business News.