Rush for book on Anglophone lawyers & teachers strikes in Buea

By Christopher Ambe

A new book titled “ Anglophone Lawyers and Teachers strikes: A Multidimensional Perspective”  co-edited by Emeritus Professor of Literature , Kashim Ibrahim Tala (retired from the University of Buea,UB) and Dr. Kingsly L.Ngange,head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Buea , was on September 27 launched in Buea, under the patronage of the Vice-Chancellor of UB,Prof.Horace Manga.

At the crowd-pulling event, which took place on UB campus, various speakers who included book reviewer Prof. Nol Alembong,UB’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Teaching, Information & Communication Technologies, described the 302-page book as a must-read & keep, prompting a rush for the  limited copies available ,autographed by the editors.  A copy sells at 15,000 Fcfa.

In his opening remarks, UB Vice-Chancellor Prof Manga said the book “is very topical and relevant” to the ongoing Anglophone Crisis, which erupted in 2016, resulting in the deaths of over 2000 people, the destruction of public and private property worth billions of FCFA and the internal displacement of over half-million people (IDPs) ,with over thirty thousand seeking refugees in Nigeria. 

He commended the authors of the book, which, it emerged, will soon be translated in French, for “capturing the basic facts of the crisis”, noting that Prof. Tala was one of the members of the team assembled by the Cameroon government to look into the grievances of teachers when the crisis erupted, before it later degenerated into an armed conflict.

The book, the VC noted, was so timely and historic that if it were going to be written some ten years later it could register some inaccuracies.

Talking about the seven-chapter book, Prof Tala said it “provides detailed and objective accounts of the origin and evolution of the Anglophone Lawyers and Teachers strike actions in Cameroon” ,adding that “the book is a forensic investigation into the strike actions in order to reveal their ramifications in a bid to challenge over simplified accounts”

According to Prof Tala,the nine book contributors concluded from their research that: " a) The grievances tabled by the Lawyers and Teachers were genuine and legitimate.

b) Throughout the mediation and negotiation process, the government relied mostly on the conflict resolution approach which provided immediate solution to a deep seated conflict. But quick solutions in this case can only have short-term effects. What is needed in the case of the strike actions by the Anglophone Lawyers and Teachers is a deeper and long-term solution which can only be achieved through a broad based, genuine and inclusive dialogue.

c) The tone and wording of the manifestos and memorandums addressed to government by the Common Law Lawyers Association and the All Anglophones Teachers Trade Unions indicate that the two bodies have lost confidence and trust in the government. The two bodies also claimed that the government has consistently and persistently showed bad faith throughout previous negotiations. They also accused the government as power holder of wanton abuse of power and privilege.”

Prof Tala said the book’s  recommendations for  meaningful and lasting solutions to  crisis are: “a)The striking Lawyers & Teachers may have to adopt concession bargaining which is a process of getting each side in a conflict to willingly make concessions in exchange for concessions made by the opposing side.

b) Although the government has demonstrated through its numerous actions that it is interested in peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis, it must be ready to adopt the mechanism of conflict transformation. It must be sincere in its engagements and it must be ready to implement the resolution arrived at by both parties.

The book,Prof.Tala noted, “does not set out to praise one party to the conflict and blame the other; does not also claim to be exhaustive and definitive… but merely documents the Anglophone Lawyers and Teachers strikes as seen through the intellectual lenses of the contributors-strikes which have generated catastrophic consequences that are transforming the history of Cameroon.”

The senior editor urges every Cameroonian who is interested in the momentous events which are affecting the future of his country to buy, read and own a copy of the book, which he emphasized “ is thoroughly researched and enjoyable to read”.  

For his part,co-editor Dr. Ngange ,who conceived the idea of the book,rallied its contributors and sourced for the funds to print it, presented  the rich credentials of the nine contributors who include UB Registrar,Dr. Ernest Molua and senior Journalist Sone Bayen.

The book’s Buea chief launchers were Blasius Ngome,director of Communications of SONARA,who sat in for the general manager and Dr.Humphrey Ekema Monono,former Registrar of Cameroon GCE board.

It emerged at the launch that, the book is  already being translated into French by the Advanced School of Translation and Interpretation(ASTI),Buea  and that volume II is underway.

It is  worth noting that Prof Tala,is the first Anglophone Cameroonian to have  a PhD from Cameroon University and Dr. Ngange is also the first Anglophone Cameroonian to have PhD in Mass Communication form a Cameroonian university(University of Buea.