Monthly Archives: June 2016

2, June 2016

Cameroon: Mysterious snake at residence of former Prime Minister ⁰

Scores of panic-stricken inhabitants of Mvog-Atangana Mballa neighbourhood in Yaounde on May 29, 2016, thronged the home of the late former Prime Minister of Cameroon, Charles Asale. This followed news that a mysterious snake had been noticed in a tall tree inside the compound. The snake was reportedly spotted at about 3 pm by some neighbours and members of the nearby Jehovah Witness Church.

One of the Christians said after service, they went out for evangelism. They were praying not far from the area when they were alerted by the shouts of neighbours who said there was a snake at the top of one of the trees in the compound. They immediately informed family members who in turn called in Fire Fighters. Even though some people claimed to have seen a big black snake in the tree, many others said they saw nothing. The only thing they could see was a dark bundle on one of the branches which some alleged was the snake that had “suddenly changed into the bundle!”

Also crows were seen flying on top of the tree, with some onlookers suggesting that it was the sign of the presence of a serpent nearby. Efforts by Fire Fighters to flush out the said snake with water hoses failed. After about two hours of trying, the officers returned to base to refill their tanks, while waiting for any further alert. Some neighbours said that the recent demolition of a portion of the fence and structures around the compound of the Asale’s by the Yaounde City Council might have forced the mysterious snake out of its hideout into the tall tree.

2, June 2016

Cameroon: Minister Hamadou Moustapha calls for divine protection against Boko Haram ⁰

The Minister in charge of Special Duties at the Presidency, Hamadou Moustapha, has declared the need to pray for the country which is a victim of insurgency by the terrorist group, Boko Haram. “In spite of the bravery of our Defence Forces, bravery alone does not suffice. We absolutely need Divine protection,” he told the press after representing the Head of State at a prayer session involving over 30 Imams and Muslim dignitaries of the Centre Region on May 28, 2016, in the Essos Mosque, Yaounde.

The Imams were holding the 5^th edition of prayer session which is a tradition every year, a week before Ramadan fasting period. They prayed not only for peace in Cameroon but also for good health, wisdom and long life for President Biya, his wife and members of his family. “To support the Head of State, we instructed all imams to continue praying for each of his acts,” revealed the Principal Imam of the Essos Mosque, El Hadj Modibo Halidou Ibrahima.

For his part, the Coordinator of the Council of Imams and Muslim Dignitaries of Cameroon, CIDIMUC, Dr. Moussa Oumarou assured that all Muslims have been instructed to continue praying especially as faithful at the eve of the Ramadan period. The Governor of the Centre Region, Joseph Otto Wilson was also present in the prayer session during which sacred Koranic verses were read imploring God’s mercy and blessings over Cameroon.

Culled from Cameroon Tribune

2, June 2016

African fashion models taking over the runway ⁰

While numbers are still low, the percentage of non-white models has actually increased from 2015.In 2015, 84.7% of of all the models featured in spring 2016’s fashion adverts were white compared to 78.2% this year.

Of these models we are starting to notice an increasing number of high fashion models from Africa – many from Angola and South Sudan in particular.

Multimedia

2, June 2016

Cameroon honors petty traders ⁰

Ten traders were crowned ambassadors in various sectors of petty trading. They received trophies, attestations and encouragement envelops for endurance, stamina, persistence as puff-balls vendors, blind braid teacher, deaf kid coach, lame craftsmen, outstanding building constructor, blind craftsmen, and community hope givers from Big Earth.

Speaking during the award in Bonapriso recently, the President of Grass 2 Grace Humanitarian Organisation Cameroon who doubles as Promoter of Big Earth Award, His Royal Majesty Thomas Ayuk Fotang, prolific entertainer who presents the comic news “Scratch Ya Eye” on Canal 2 International, said the purpose is to alleviate poverty, kill stigmatization, boost capital with the goal of making beneficiaries veritable ambassadors of the informal sector. He explained that merit is not made only for the people of the upper class of society but also for the forgotten: “The less privileged also have the right to be recognized in the society.”

In another domain, Denise Fampou, El Hadj Oumarou Danjuma, Mike Okeke, Dipoko Songue, and Dimitri received five special prizes for their outstanding contribution to their communities. The jury comprised a clergyman, a philanthropist, and a humanitarian activist. Big Earth Award seeks to spur longevity, endurance, punctuality, assiduity and respect among petty traders.

2, June 2016

Models wanted in Nigeria ⁰

Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) is calling on models for its upcoming fashion week in July. Model casting will take place on 21st May 2016 between 12pm-4pm. Early arrival is advised as models who arrive late WILL not be seen.

Model Casting will be held as follows; Saturday 21st of May at Aramis, Plot 1b block 49 Admiralty way Lekki Phase 1. Lagos. Nigeria

360nobs.com

2, June 2016

First penis transplant in the USA ⁰

A hospital in Boston has become the first in the US to perform a successful penis transplant, doctors said, calling the operation “a surgical milestone”. Thomas Manning, 64, received the donated organ three years after his penis was amputated due to penile cancer.

He is the third man worldwide to have had the experimental surgery performed. The patient is expected to regain normal urination and sexual function in the next few months. The 15-hour operation took place earlier this month at Massachusetts General Hospital and involved more than 50 doctors from many departments including urology, psychiatry, plastic surgery, and several others.

BBC

2, June 2016

Cameroon: June parliamentary session begins ⁰

The 2^nd Ordinary Session of Parliament for the 2016 Legislative Year has been convened for Thursday June 2, 2016. Ahead of the opening session, preparations are intensifying at the Senate and the Ngoa-Ekelle Glass House of the National Assembly to ensure a hitch-free session. At the Conference Centre, the Senate is scheduled to hold in its traditional chamber in spite of ongoing rehabilitation works on the edifice.

When the nation’s national daily, Cameroon Tribune visited the Conference Centre yesterday May 30, 2016, the inner-chamber of one of the auditoriums of the venue where plenary sessions usually take place was being arranged to host Senate deliberations. Staff of the Congress Centre were busy packing out conference chairs in order to clean the red carpet and rearrange the hall with the usual chairs and tables adapted to the Senate setting.

One of the workers, Jerome Bangu, observed that they had two days (yesterday and today) to prepare the hall for the Senate. The air conditioning and sound systems were also being verified to ensure they are functioning. Bangu added that they will also prepare space to serve as offices for the General Secretariat, which was relocated to the ARMP Building in the Dragages neighbourhood in Yaounde.

At the National Assembly, all is almost set as final touches are being carried out to prepare the Hemicycle and the Committee rooms for the 2rd Ordinary Session of Parliament. A preparatory meeting of the different departments of the National Assembly reportedly held on May 24, 2016 to identify pitfalls during the last session and propose corrective measures for the upcoming session. Emphasis during the meeting was laid on security, lodging, restauration and logistics, so as to ensure a smooth session.

Source: Cameroon Tribune

2, June 2016

Cameroon host 17th edition of Mother and Child Nutrition week ⁰

The 17th edition of Mother and Child Nutrition and health action week was held on the 15th April 2016 in Cameroon. The three day event was marked by an intense vaccination campaign where vaccination agents moved from door to door to administer Polio vaccine to children from zero to five years; the vitamin A vaccine to children from six months to five years; while pregnant women received some preventive treatment against Malaria.

In the Centre Region, the Regional Delegate of Public Health attested that all the supplements were available and used in all the districts. The program was aimed at attaining a hundred percent coverage of the immunization campaign in the Centre Region. In the Centre Region, vaccination agents visited schools and market places to meet parents and children.

Parents were also told to react positively to the vaccination campaign which covered the 30 health districts of the Centre Region. The Mother and Child Nutrition and Health action week also coincided with the African immunization week.

CRTV

2, June 2016

Mushroom treatment for people with depression ⁰

A hallucinogenic chemical in magic mushrooms shows promise for people with untreatable depression, a short study on just 12 people hints. Eight patients were no longer depressed after the “mystical and spiritual” experience induced by the drug. The findings in the Lancet Psychiatry showed five of the patients were still depression-free after three months. Experts cautiously welcomed the findings as “promising, but not completely compelling”.

There have now been calls for the drug to be tested in larger trials. At the start of the trial, nine of the patients had at least severe depression and three were moderately depressed. In one patient, symptoms had lasted for 30 years. All of them had tried at least two different treatments for depression, without success.

BBC

2, June 2016

Biya should retire happily in 2018 ⁰

The Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement is already in the field campaigning for 2018. Clarion calls have been made for the 83 year old dictator to run again for president. Cameroon Intelligence Report can reveal these CPDM outdated gorilla tactics have not gone down well with the international community. As pressure continues to mount on President Biya, the French including the Americans are reportedly preparing a plan B that will see an end to the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime. Recently in Yaounde the nation’s capital, mixed reviews and opinions have been expressed by certain political scientists, sociologists, teachers and other academic experts including people on the know. The general feeling remains that anyone who likes Mr Biya can only wish him a happy retirement. We of this publication agree that at nearly 83 years of age and 34 years in power, President Biya no longer has the physical and moral capacity to manage the country. His 2035 Emergence Plan is already crumbling in front of his own watchful eyes. Nothing is happening with the roads he announced he was building, nothing is happening to the football stadiums he said will be ready before the female African Cup of Nations, nothing has improved with state pensions, the banking sector, health and the judiciary. Going beyond 2018 is not a priority for a people who do not have even basic needs.

Some have opined that President Biya should reject these calls coming from these political sycophants and cronies of his ruling CPDM claiming it represents an identity that illustrates men and women hungry for power. Cameroon Intelligence Report’s chief political editor observed that Biya should allow other Cameroonians brave like him to take control. To be sure, President Biya must withdraw to preserve his dignity as one of the greatest statesman the continent ever known.

It will be hard for President Biya at 83 to provide a genuine political solution to the major concern before the elections in 2018 which is to establish the essential devices for credible elections. Instead of calling on Mr. Biya to run in 2018 or call for earlier presidential poll, the Francophone Beti Ewondo regime needs to open a transition program, rewrite the constitution and give the country a fair and equitable electoral law as well as strengthen the civil society. Biya and his regime have too many unfinished projects in the last 34 years and everyone Cameroonian including highly placed members of the ruling elites now understand that age is telling on him and these projects will not be realized during the upcoming seven years. We call on President Paul Biya to retire happily. A word to a wise is sufficient.