1, October 2020

Rural Female Farmers Contribute More To Local Economy In Cameroon ⁰

With about half a million young women and a quarter of a million young men according to research, armed with the capacity to grow food, make goods, and provide services to others in Cameroon, several challenges pose as factors responsible for impeding the impact of their activities.

A study shows, these factors comprise of unemployment, poverty and underemployment, despite agriculture being a major source of labour and accounting for almost three-quarters (70%) of Cameroon’s workforce, (International Labour Office (ILO), 2014). A recent study carried out by Djomo Raoul under the IFAD funded IITA-CARE project, explored the contributions of young female grain farmers in rural Cameroon to the local economy.

While Cameroon’s agribusiness practice operates in a market economy way. Findings from the study, show that young female maize farmer-marketers pay more for farm labour than their male counterparts. An indication of their impact on the rural economy, unlike their rice farmer-marketers who, pay less than their male counterparts for labour, and a larger share of the women market their rice for higher prices than their male counterparts.

Although the female maize farmers pay more for labour, which is better for the local economy, it also means lower returns for them, unlike the male maize farmers who also have access to a credit facility. According to the study, when farm labour is paid a living wage, more of non-farm labour can also earn a living wage, as earnings are spent and earned and otherwise cycled through the local economy.

Where farm labour goes unpaid, fewer people can afford to purchase goods and services from others, so less money cycles through the local economy. Thus, those who pay for farm labour contribute more to their local rural economy than those who do not.

According to Djomo Raoul, in cases where farm labour goes unpaid, fewer people can afford to purchase goods and services from others, so less money circulates through the local economy. Making farmers who pay for labour, contributors to the local economy in the Far North Region, North Region and the West Region parts of Cameroon where the study was carried out, than those who do not.

The study also showed maize and rice production, and marketing in Northern and Western Cameroon contributing to higher standards of living among locals, raising local food security and promoting development in rural communities, where nearly half the population lives.

Findings from the study, reveal that the challenge of rural un- and underemployment, especially among young women, can be solved in part if more young Cameroonians choose agribusiness entrepreneurship. Young women can also be as productive, and successful as young men, especially at producing and marketing grains like maize and rice, if policymakers can establish enabling environments through gender-positive policies.

Source: Modern Ghana

1, October 2020

Football: Cameroonian player arrested in Mauritius over passport scam ⁰

Cameroonian midfielder Marcel Wamba Kepdep has been arrested in Mauritius after he tried to illegally obtain a Mauritian passport.

The 27-year-old has been playing for Mauritian side Roche-Bois Bolton City and was hoping to travel to Europe with the documents.

Kepdep remains in police custody after his provisional indictment in court.

One major advantage enjoyed by Mauritian passport holders can travel visa-free to the Schengen region in Europe for tourism and business purposes for a period of up to 90 days.

Mauritius’ Central Criminal Investigation Division (CCID) is investigating a network trying to sell Mauritian passports to foreigners, including African footballers playing in the country.

Following the arrest of three people in Port Louis as part of a police crackdown the authorities examined computer files and seized fake passports.

Among the documents were some that features photos of Marcel Wamba Kepdep, but under a different name.

Following his arrest the Cameroonian confessed he had approached this network to obtain a Mauritian passport before heading to Europe.

Football in Mauritius has been suspended due to the global Covid-19 pandemic meaning that many players contract’s will not be renewed as teams are having struggle to pay them.

Kepdep participated in the Confederation Cup last year as Roche-Bois Bolton City made their debut in the second-tier continental club competition with a win over Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy, before being eliminated by Zambian side Zanaco.

Source: BBC

1, October 2020

East Cameroon Demonstration: It can’t be a one off ⁰

Cameroon’s opposition leader, Professor Maurice Kamto, has been in the spotlight for two years now because of his determination to change the country’s political landscape by all means.

The country has been in the grip of a corrupt dictatorship for decades and bringing about change in such a political system will require massive efforts and determination.

Key among the tools that the country’s political opposition is using are peaceful public demonstrations which are acceptable in genuine democracies and Cameroon has been flaunting itself as an advanced democracy though political dissent is not tolerated.

On September 22, the political opposition led by Professor Kamto called on its supporters in the country to come out en masse to demonstrate against a regime noted for its corruption and intolerance.

The turnout was impressive, despite the violent response from the government.

From every indication, East Cameroonians are gradually plucking up courage to challenge a political system that has brought more poverty and corruption to a country and its population.

Cameroon is in deep waters and for close to four decades, it has been ruled by a crime syndicate that has made corruption its hallmark and it is not repentant about that.

Over the last 30 years, the country’s economy has been suffering and this unfortunate situation has been made worse by the government’s refusal to see political dialogue as a way out of the quagmire.

Cameroon is going through tough times. The people are sick and tired of the dictatorship and economic hardship brought onto them by a government that is not willing to mend its ways.

The impressive results posted by the country’s opposition on September 22 are a testament to the fact that if more Cameroonians join the effort, the outdated political system could be changed.

However, if the demonstrations must result in anything meaningful, the demonstrations must be on a daily basis. Cameroonians must take a leaf out of the political book published by Sudanese and Algerians if they want to make any meaningful impact.

The odds are in the opposition’s favor. The government is cash-strapped and it is fighting many wars at the same time.

Its refusal to walk away from its old ways has left it in a permanent state of conflict. In the north, Boko Haram is making life very hard for everybody. The religious sect is killing both civilians and soldiers and the helpless population does not know where to turn to as the government itself is totally helpless.

But the government’s most uncomfortable nightmare is in the two English-speaking regions of the country where Southern Cameroonian separatists are hell-bent on achieving independence by force.

For four good years, the crime syndicate which passes off as a government has been pouring billions of dollars into the country’s two English-speaking regions but not for development purposes.

It has been battling an insurgency that might split the country if care is not taken. The fighting has already hit the country’s economy like a ton of bricks, leaving many young Cameroonians unemployed.

It has also generated many internally displaced persons and refugees. This situation is a real nightmare to the government that actually feels threatened.

Cameroonians must look at how other countries have achieved their political goals. Demonstrations to overthrow a deep-rooted dictatorship cannot be a one-off.

The hungry and desperate people of Cameroon must take to the streets every day until the dictator throws in his towel.

The people must understand that the government will not be going down without a fight and it will use all the means available to it to stay in power.

The people must not relent. They must understand that you cannot make omelet without breaking eggs.

Other countries have seen their dreams come true through their determined effort. Cameroonians can also chase this government away through collective action.

What is certain is that the government cannot kill or imprison everybody. This is a government that does not believe in genuine dialogue.

If it has to change its way, then it must be compelled, one way or the other, to come to the negotiating table for true and genuine discussions. The ball is in the court of Cameroonians and the opposition leaders. Nobody will solve these problems for Cameroonians. The brave people of Cameroon must learn how to take on a government whose cardinal objective is to exploit its own people.

The country’s English-speaking minority has already set a beautiful example. East Cameroonians must learn from the English-speaking minority if they want their dream to come true.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai in the United Kingdom and Irene Nanyongo in Canada

1, October 2020

Defiant to French Cameroun.. Ambazonia leader says life sentence is helping the progress of the resistance ⁰

To live is the struggle

I want you to know my Ambazonian brothers and sisters that the things that have happened to us, leading to the life sentence slammed on us by the Yaoundé military court at 5:38am on Tuesday 20th August 2019, are helping the progress of the struggle for the restoration of the independence of our nation. As a result, warders of the Kondengui Principal Prison Yaoundé (KPPY) and all the others here know that we are in prison because we are servants of the struggle. And our being in prison has given most of our brothers and sisters increased determination in the struggle and more confidence in the Lord, so that they grow bolder all the time to discuss the message of the struggle fearlessly.

Of course some of our people speak the message of the struggle because they are jealous and quarrelsome, but others from genuine goodwill. These do so from love, because they know that God has given us the work of defending the struggle. The others do not proclaim the struggle sincerely, but from a spirit of selfish ambition; they think that they will make more trouble for me and my nine brothers while we are in prison.

It does not matter! We are happy about it-so long as the struggle is preached in every way possible, whether from wrong or right motives. And we will continue to be happy, because we know that by means of your prayers and the help which comes from the spirit of God, we shall be set free. Our deep desire and hope is that we shall never fail in our duty, but that at all times and especially just now, we shall be full of courage, so that with our whole beings, we shall bring honour to the struggle, whether we live or die.

For what is life? To us it is the struggle. Death, then, will bring more. But if by continuing to live we can do more worthwhile work, then we are not sure which we should choose. We are pulled in two directions. We want very much to leave this life and be with God, which is a far better thing; but for the sake of the struggle, it is much more important that we remain alive.

We are sure of this and so we know that we will stay. We will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and joy in the struggle, so that when we are with you again, you will have even more reason to be proud of us in your life.

Now the important thing is that your way of life should be as the struggle requires, so that, whether or not we are able to come and see you, we will hear that you are all standing firm with one common purpose and that with only one desire, you are fighting together for the struggle of the restoration of the independence of Ambazonia.

Don’t be afraid of our enemies; always be courageous and this will prove to them that they will lose and that we will win, because it is God who gives us the victory. For we have been given the privilege of serving for the struggle, not only by believing in it, but also by suffering for it. Now you can take part with us in the battle. It is the same battle you saw us fighting in the past, and as you hear, the one we are still fighting.

Amen.

Adapted from Philippians1:12-30

By Sisiku AyukTabe

23^rd August2019.

From the Kondengui Principal Prison,

Where he and 9 other Ambazonian leaders have just been imprisoned for life