President Paul Biya’s ruling party, Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM) has been in mourning since Wednesday August 6, following the death of Stephen Mbonda Motia, National Leader of the party’s youth wing.

Sources close to the decease said he died en route to Kumba after visiting his medical doctor in Limbe, South West region of Cameroon. While the cause of his death remains unknown, the fact that he visited his personal physician suggests he suffered a health malaise.

The young and dynamic Stephen Mbonda was elected CPDM National Youth Leader during the 3rd ordinary congress of the party in 2011 – an election he said took him aback. “In fact the news came like a surprise to me when my name was called up in the hall. I look forward to delivering the goods,” he said shortly after his election.

Unfortunately, Motia will not live to deliver these goods as the cold hands of death snatched him about two years to the end of his mandate. Motia had promised during his five-year mandate to ensure youth moral uprightness, convince them that unity alone will help build Cameroon, unite all the youth associations in a bid to redefine a number of things and be sure that they all work for the implementation of policies put in place by the Head of State.

His death came as a shock to many who had established very close relationship with him. One of them is Alene Menget, Founder and CEO of ATS, a film production company. “Otapiapia is how I called him.

He called me Alhaji ten ten. Mbonda Stephen and I were very close. He stood by me during crises. We looked alike. He called me his junior brother. He was made national youth president of the CPDM.

My grand got busy as head of the youths of his party and we hardly could be meeting. Then today morning (August 6) a call came that he is dead,” he said.

Motia played an important role in the reelection of President Paul Biya during the 2011 Presidential Election, mobilizing youths to comb the nooks and crannies of the country to campaign for Mr Biya.