Some CPDM militants joined the populations in a peaceful protest, on Saturday in Tombel, as CPDM barons thronged into town for a party seminar. The protesters cried for roads, drinkable water, health centres etc. etc.

The populations of Kupe-Muanenguba division in the South West region including some militants of the ruling CPDM party have questioned why the division should continue voting the CPDM party even when their support does not seem to be acknowledged by Yaounde authorities.

Party militants joined their voices to those of drivers, commercial motorbike riders, petit traders and market women to protest an initiative by CPDM big-wigs in the division to address a motion of support to President Biya, for the measures he has taken to eradicate the Boko Haram insurgency and the Ebola scare.

The motion of support was the culmination of a seminar to inform and train elected officials at the local level (mayors and councilors) on the role that they must play to ensure a good image for the party and win more supporters in view of future political consultations.

Resource persons at the seminar, notably Okie Johnson Ndoh (DAG of the Ministry of Supreme State Control), Elung Paul Che (GM of CSPH) and Mesumbe Martin Akame (Director of Petroleum and Gas at the MINEE) exposed respectively on the themes: “The responsibility of mayors today”, “Mayors and party image” and “Enhancing the relationship between mayors and parliamentarians, local administrative officials and traditional chiefs.

Presiding over the seminar, the CPDM Central Committee delegation leader for Kupe-Muanenguba, Ngole Philip Ngwese, who is also the minister of Forestry and Wildlife, told militants that the seminar was organized at the instance of party chairman president Paul Biya, who did not want elected officials especially the mayors, to sleep on their laurels after the brilliant victory in the 30 September elections.

“Even though the party came up with a manifesto that ensured victory for the CPDM, the hierarchy of the party thought that it was time to school mayors and councilors on what is expected of them so that they should be able to deliver and concretize the promises made during the election campaigns,” Ngole Ngwese said.

However, when militants were given the floor to react to the presentations by the resource persons, some frowned at the way the party hierarchy shares out the spoils from election victories. Speaker after speaker questioned why the grassroots should keep giving victories to the party during successive elections when such support is never reciprocated in the form of development projects.

Others wondered aloud why Kupe-Muanenguba should be neglected and abandoned to wallow in such dehumanizing conditions, with impracticable linking roads, no portable water, poorly-equipped schools and health centres, no jobs etc etc, despite the crushing victories we have always given the CPDM party at all elections?

The frustrations expressed by the CPDM militants tied vividly with the inscriptions on placards that were posted at strategic locations of the town ahead of Saturday’s meeting. The messages on the different placards boiled down to one thing:- that Kupe-Muanenguba does not merit the unconscionable hardship that its populations have been subjected to for decades now.

In his response to the protesters, minister Ngole Philip Ngwese said that Yaounde was not unaware that Kupe-Muanenguba Division is in dire need of roads. He urged the militants to exercise some more patience and not protest in such a way as to cause the authorities to abandon the plans they already have in store for the division. Ngole Philip assured militants that it is just a matter of time for roads in Kupe-Muanenguba to be done.

Meanwhile, some commentators at the meeting told this reporter that maintenance contracts for the Loum-Tombel-Kumba and Tombel-Bangem roads had since been handed, but that the contractors have disappeared for yet unknown reasons. Some of the contractors were even alleged to have collected part of the money for the contracts.

It is worthy to note that because of the deplorable state of the roads, transportation from one destination to another in Kupe-Muanenguba is a nightmare. Transport fares have reached a record high. This reporter for instance paid 1500 FCFA to be transported on motorbike through the 7km distance from Loum to Tombel.

We also gathered from the motor park that for the 56km distance separating Tombel and the divisional headquarters, Bangem, drivers charge between 15.000 to 20000 frs, that is if one is lucky to find a unimorque vehicle or a motorbike. As for the Kumba-Tombel and Melon-Bangem roads they are simply impracticable and out of use. The streets of Tombel are simply unmotorable. Even the DO goes on bike to work.

It should be mentioned that the Loum-Tombel-Kumba road was tarred following the reunification in 1961. It was the first ever tarred road linking West and East Cameroon. But the road has since been abandoned to ruin.

Apart from roads, party militants in Tombel complained vexatiously at the way the Tombel council was being run. They said the mayor is never on seat. Councilors reported that the mayor runs the council from abroad; that even when she delegates powers to one of her assistants she leaves no money in the coffers even for running expenses.