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10, June 2016

Cameroon: Senators grilled cabinet ministers on bilingualism, electricity ⁰

The Senate Chamber at the Yaounde Conference Centre was yesterday June 9, 2016, the venue for Senators to check government activities as prescribed by law. Senate President, Marcel Niat Njifenji, in the presence of the Vice Prime Minister, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies, Amadou Ali, called the House to order and announced that the plenary session was for questions to the Executive. Seven cabinet ministers were grilled on issues patterning to tourism, agriculture, bilingualism, water and electricity, environment amongst others.

The Minister of State in charge of Tourism and Leisure, Bello Bouba Maïgari, was the first to mount the rostrum to respond to a question from NUDP Senator, Pierre Flambeau Ngayap, on the impact of the Boko Haram war on tourism in the Far North Region. The Minister of State said the impact is tremendous, not only on the tourism sector, but also on agriculture, education and health. Bello Bouba stressed that the government is preoccupied most with the pressing issue of securing the population and defending the national territory, which so far have been done with great success by the Defence Forces.

This notwithstanding, moves are being made to promote internal tourism, given that diplomatic missions had advised their compatriots to stay away from the Far North Region. Similarly, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Henri Eyebe Ayissi, was also quizzed on measures taken to pre-empt food deficiency in the Far North Region. He outlined short and long term measures adopted stating the Head of State’s special food donation worth FCFA 12 billion which has been partly distributed. Agricultural machinery and the development of production zones are part of long-term measures to ensure food sufficiency in the region.

On the imbalance in the use of official languages in communicating important information, Communication Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary pointed out that the Constitution of the Republic of Cameroon provides for English and French as two official languages of equal status. He cited his press outings, which he said are always bilingual and the official newspaper, Cameroon Tribune, which publishes information in both languages.

Senator Simon Anja’s worry on the non-posting of French language teachers to some schools especially in Akwaya sub-division, Manyu Division of the South West Region, was also addressed by the Minister of Basic Education, Youssouf Alim Adidja. Meanwhile, measures to ease access to water and electricity were explained by Minister Basile Atangana Kouna who also said errors in the billing systems should be reported to the service providers. The Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousmane Mey, his colleague of Environment and Protection of Nature, Helé Pierre also provided answers to worries of Senators.

Cameroon Tribune

10, June 2016

Living the Nnoko Mbele Dream: Kumba Council gains 40 per cent investment in 2015 ⁰

Grand Councilors of the Kumba City Council in Meme Division of the South West Region recently adopted the 2015 Administrative and Management Accounts during the First Ordinary Council session. The Government Delegate to the Kumba City Council, Victor Ngoh Nkelle, noted that 1.5 Billion FCFA was budgeted in 2015, with additional investment of 212 Million FCFA from MINEPAT, giving a total of 1,712,000,000 FCFA. He disclosed that 1,082,525,076 FCFA was collected, higher than in 2014; while investment stood at 40 per cent.

He said during the year under review, the City Council was able to dredge portions of River Manbungise in 2015. Victor Ngoh Nkelle disclosed that because of the accountable and efficient execution of the project in 2015, Kumba City Council considered the project for continuation in 2016 by extending it for another 8 months to clean 580 meters of the same river at 210,582,000 FCFA. The City Council, he said, equally drained toilets within the Kumba Main Market and parks, acquired 105 metallic chairs for the City Council Hall, 35 computer tables for the library, 300 plastic chairs and tables still awaited to be supplied.

The Government Delegate to the Kumba City Council noted that work at Buea Road Motor Park stands at 60 per cent, with the ongoing construction of 26 permanent roadside stores adjacent the Premier Pharmacy, in addition to the rehabilitation of other roads in the city. He said internal revenue could be more than what was realized if Sub-divisional Councils stopped the collection of building permit levies and advertisement taxes.

The Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, Koulbout Aman David, lauded the Government Delegate and his team for a job well done, thanks to excellent team work between the Government Delegate, Grand Councilors, the Secretary General and the Treasurer. He called on the Treasurer not to relent his efforts in revenue collection. The SDO also urged the Government Delegate to speed up work at the Mambanda and Buea Road Motor Parks to help generate more revenue for the City Council.

Cameroon Tribune

10, June 2016

Cameroon sets deadline for unidentified mobile phone subscribers ⁰

Unidentified subscribers to the Cameroon Telecommunications, Camtel, MTN Cameroon, Orange Cameroun and Nexttel have for over a month been again receiving messages inviting them to rush to sales points to update their files and or correct bad identification. The response has been prompt. The operation has been launched separately by mobile telephone operators under the auspices of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications with the Telecommunications Regulatory Board playing watchdog role.

Some operators like MTN Cameroon have opted for proximity identification, given the stakes of the exercise. The company has deployed teams to Yaounde neighborhoods like Ngoa-Ekelle, Mvan, Ngoussou, Bastos, and Soa etc to reach maximum clients. It is motivating subscribers with free airtime to scale up the number of identified clients. Other operators like Orange Cameroun have remained true to themselves, sensitizing clients on the reasons for having their identities in the database. The company’s sales points and shops have since witnessed unprecedented crowds, with subscribers committing to the exercise.

Information garnered from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication reveals that previous operations did not meet the expectations of the Head of Government wholly. Government is therefore out for serious business. Security stakes are high and no government will fold arms to jeopardize the livelihoods of its citizens. Today June 10, 2016, is deadline for identification. Mobile phone operators have warned feet-dragging subscribers that their lines will be suspended if not found in the database.

The operation comes after that which was carried out late last year. It was prompted by the Prime Ministerial decree of September 3, 2015 spelling out the conditions for identifying subscribers. Subscribers, according to the decree, are expected to submit original copies of their National Identity Cards, residence permits for foreigners, complete address and sketch of the home’s location as well as the international identity of the equipment terminal (IMEI) for identification.

Unlike in the past when subscribers upgraded profiles with photocopies of ID cards, the current operation obliges subscribers to present originals of their particulars for complete identification. Mireille Flore Dongmo, one of the agents of MTN Cameroon, told Cameroon Tribune at CETIC Ngoa-Ekelle, Yaounde yesterday June 9, 2016, that subscribers are yet to draw a line between registration and identification. The agents are using innovative technology to scan ID cards and have them signed by subscribers to complete the identification procedure.

Cameroon Tribune

9, June 2016

Honoring Stephen Keshi: CAF President expresses “immense sadness” ⁰

Issa Hayatou, the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sent a message of condolence to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation following the sudden death of the Great Stephen Keshi. Issa Hayatou expressed his “dismay” and his “immense sadness” to the Nigerian football family.

In the correspondence, the CAF President revisited the rich career of the deceased saying Keshi remains the first African coach to have qualified two African teams in a World Cup final: Togo in 2006 and Nigeria in 2014. He won the Africa Nations Cup with Nigeria both as a player and a coach in 1994 and 2013 respectively. Stephen Keshi is also the only African technician to have taken a selection from the continent to the second round of a World Cup tournament. He did that in 2014 in Brazil with Nigeria.

Rest in peace the BOSS

9, June 2016

Cameroon selects 25 hotels for the female Africa Cup of Nations 2016 ⁰

25 hotels have been selected by Cameroon for hosting of the various delegations and official CAF accredited journalists during the female Africa Cup of Nations 2016 to be held in Yaoundé and Limbe from the 19^th of November to the 03^rd of December. The 25 hotels are listed in Yaounde, Douala and Limbe. The 8 countries that qualified for the competition are:

Cameroon

Equatorial Guinea

Egypt

Kenya

South Africa

Ghana

Zimbabwe

Nigeria

The CPDM government says it has provided financial support to some private hotel developers to enable them run a 24 hours service.

CIR

9, June 2016

CPDM mayor of Balikumbat sentenced to 8 years in prison ⁰

Mayor Wasum Augustine of Balikumbat has been sentenced to eight years in prison for kidnapping, rape and other undisclosed related charges by the Court of First Instance in Ndop. Ever since he won a second mandate as mayor, Wasum Augustine has been at war with the CPDM Section President, Senator Dinga Ignatius. Cameroon Intelligence Report learnt that his first tenure was marred by mismanagement and misappropriation.

Augustine Wasum’s first arrest was on September 3, 2012. He was among the eight mayors arrested in the Northwest Region on charges of embezzlement of state funds. The other mayors of councils that were arrested included; Stephen Tikanjo of Babessi (SDF) and Daniel Ntoh of Ndop Central (CPDM) Lawrence Tenoh of Batibo, Johnny Agogho of Andek, George Tah of Mbengwi, Godwill Amahndong (1st Deputy) Mayor of Njinkwa and Godlove Awanakam, former Mayor of Andek.

By Cham Victor

9, June 2016

Biya’s Continued stay in power: Constitutional amendment slated for next week ⁰

The bill for the precipitated constitutional amendment has been well prepared and will be presented to the National Assembly for scrutiny next week. Our senior intelligence officer in Yaounde hinted earlier today that the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the ruling CPDM, Jean Kuete met secretly with Senator Niat Njifenji yesterday and finalized the deal. We understand the leaders of both the Upper and the Lower Houses of parliament have been given standing orders to speed up the adoption of the said bill without arguments.

Special envelopes ranging from 5 to 10 million FCFA have been reportedly distributed to MPs and our elected officials have been told that their request for a 4×4 jeep will be met after the voting. Cameroon Intelligence Report gathered that the bill will focus mainly on making President Biya hold on to power beyond 2018. As the day for the adoption of the purported bill draws closer, National Assembly Speaker, Cavaye Djibril has been seen pleading to all CPDM MPs to help guarantee Biya’s continued stay in power. The CPDM diabolic harsh ploy has completely left out MPs from the Social Democratic Front.

This story is still developing

By Cham Victor

9, June 2016

President Biya’s Court to make public the Mebara verdict ⁰

Cameroon Intelligence Report has gathered from reliable sources at the Special Criminal Court that the verdict on case number 003 / RG- TCS / 2016 involving the former Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, Jean Atangana Mebara shall be made public on the 22^nd of June 2016.

Minister Mebara was charged for embezzlement of 5 million US dollars in a presidential jet scandal that rocked the Cameroonian nation. Depicting the Special Criminal Court established to prosecute alleged corrupt government officials and the several Alibabas responsible for pilfering from the public treasury as the President’s court is no misnomer.

We call it the President’s court because it is one instrument of power through which the President is reining in on perceived opponents from within his CPDM power conduit. An attribute of a genuine court is the fairness of the trial proceedings in cases which are brought before the court for trial. It is not the number of convictions entered against accused.

A court is legitimate and recognized as such because of its exercise of judicial, executive, legislative and administrative independence. A court that is independent must be accessible to all citizens after all, is equality before the law, not a constitutionally protected value? The Special Criminal Court is lacking in these attributes of impartiality, judicial independence and accessibility. It is perceived more as the President’s Court than a Court of Justice.

CIR

9, June 2016

Samuel Eto’o pays homage to the late President of the Cameroon Professional Footballers Association ⁰

Samuel Eto’o, and many other Cameroonian football legends were among the mammoth crowd that answered present at the Military mortuary in Bonanjo- Douala to pay their last tribute to a prominent personality of the Cameroon football family.

The late David Mayebi, National President of the Cameroon Professional Footballers Association suffered a heart attack on May the 3rd in Bertoua in the East region at a ceremony where he was laying the foundation stone for a municipal stadium in the city. He was rushed to the CNPS hospital in Yaounde where he died at the intensive care unit.

CIR

9, June 2016

“IBB is alive and active” ⁰

The rumors that former Nigerian Head of State,Ibrahim Babangida is dead has gone viral across Nigeria. Babangida in an interview granted recently, debunked the rumors, promising to return to Nigeria soon. The former military dictator who institutionalized corruption was speaking from Germany, where he is receiving treatment and observed that he is alive.

IBB broke the silence on a live broadcast on June 8 saying he is hail and hearty and not dead as being alleged. He told Babajide Otitoju of the TVC that he would soon return to Nigeria and that he enjoyed viewing the station and praised them for a job well done.