Though some candidates who lost the last presidential poll have called for a boycott of the upcoming National Day celebrations, others are busy making preparations for the event. March past rehearsals, production of party gadgets and fabrics as well as the mobilisation of supporters are the order of the day.
At the headquarters of the ruling CPDM in Yaounde, the offices look deserted as officials had all gone to mobilise supporters or coordinate celebration activities. To give the event the pomp it deserves, commissions have been set up to take care of every aspect of the preparation such as marching, animation and logistics.
Though the leading opposition party, the Social Democratic Front (SDF) is a signatory to the Foumban boycott declaration last weekend calling, among other things, for a boycott of the march past, an official at the Centre Regional bureau of the party told Cameroon Tribune on May 14 that they were continuing with preparations while waiting for official directives from the party hierarchy. The party has been taking part in various preparatory meetings and had already given indications as to the size of the SDF delegation to take part in the march past in Yaounde. The Centre Regional Coordinator of the party, Ibrahim Aladji, disclosed that they last took part in a preparatory meeting with the Mfoundi Divisional Officer on May 9 and they will be part of the general march past rehearsals on May 18 at the Yaounde 20th May Avenue. At the time of our visit, bales of the party fabric were being brought to the party regional headquarters for distribution to supporters. The party is preparing for two events; the country's National Day and the party's anniversary that comes up on May 26.
The Cameroon National Salvation Front (FSNC) of Communication Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, is equally in the frenzy of preparations. The party chairman says the FSNC will be using the occasion of the National Day celebration to assess its weight in seven of the ten regions of the country where the party is implanted. Meanwhile, the Alliance of Progressive Forces of Benard Muna is sticking to the Foumban Declaration.
