The first-ever Senate in Cameroon will as from today 14 May 2013 meet in its maiden Ordinary Session as of right.

The Senators are not in Yaounde only to formulate their internal rules and regulations, that is, the Standing Orders of the House that will guide their activities, but with time will be expected to play a major role in the enactment of laws as stipulated in the Constitution of 18 January 1996.

There are therefore 'Great Expectations' from the Senate. Of course, not to be confused with Charles Dickens's fiction, since the time and setting are different and also because the context in Cameroon is about the relationship that people want to have with their institutions. For instance, Cameroonians will love to see the difference Senators will make in their communities, given that they represent the regions while belonging to different political parties that at least have manifestos.

Consequently, it is understandable that the introduction of the Senate initially raised questions about its usefulness. Now that the body is in place, the issue is no longer a matter of conjecture. Concrete results will henceforth be expected by Cameroonians from the Upper House of Parliament that officially goes operational today.

With the appointment of 30 Senators by President Paul Biya on Wednesday 8 May, 2013, the House was complete as the number of political parties represented moved from two following the 14 April election, to seven. Consequently, the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM), the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF), Movement for the Defence of the Republic (MDR), National Salvation Front (NSF), the National Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ANDP), and the National Union for Democracy and Progress (NUDP), make up the 100 Senators and political colouration of the Senate. Such a representation creates a sufficient broad base for varied sheds of opinion to exist in the House and be reflected in the laws that come out of the Upper House of Parliament.

More so, the calibre of personalities either appointed or elected into the Senate leaves no doubt that quality work can be done by the Senate. Although it may be too early to say whether the need to bring back laws to the National Assembly a few months after adoption will be limited, it must be noted that where such re-reading is in the interest of the country, no one can hesitate to have a second look at such laws. Including the Senate in the Constitution was not just a political response to public demands. The Constitutional provision equally brings along the concern to have well-thought-out laws for the fatherland. In the past, people found difficulties shunning the one party syndrome despite coming into function through hard-fought electoral campaigns. Yet, all those appointed or elected to any public office must be able to look beyond parochial concerns and focus on the bigger national picture for the wellbeing of the population and the country. And even if differences exist about who wants what from the national cake, the idea of what should consist common good cannot be a matter for debate.

Thus, as the Senators undergo the ritual that gives them full Constitutional rights, having savoured their electoral victories or appointments for those elected on 14 April or appointed last 8 May, Cameroonians are not only curious to see how they will next appear in public, but it would equally be interesting to see how they polish up laws debated by the National Assembly.

Needless saying that the person that the Senators will choose as the President of the House will occupy the Constitutional position of the second most important personality in the country after the Head of State. Such a change in the status of the one to be chosen by the Senators will mean much to the political evolution of Cameroon. It is only normal that the entire nation should be all ears to the advent of the Upper House of Parliament that goes operational in the country as from today.