Fako High Court Tasks Branch Office Head of CHRC: “Fight impunity in the Southwest!”

Tambe Tiku talks to reporters after taking oath of office as Head of CHRC SW branch office

 

By Christopher Ambe

The pioneer Head of the Branch Office of Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CHRC), Buea -Southwest region, Christopher Tambe Tiku, has launched a town-to -town campaign against human rights violations.

His campaign team has already stormed the streets of Muyuka and Buea –and plans to do same in other localities in the near future

Tambe Tiku (in glasses) and partners in the  streets of Buea on rights-awareness campaign

Driving in small convoys and armed with megaphones, and stopping in crowded areas in Muyuka and Buea, campaigners cited cases of rights violation like unauthorized seizure and search of citizens’ phones by law enforcement forces and gave the public the CHRC toll-free number (1523) to immediately report rights violations. “Enough is enough,” they shouted to their audience.

The rights-awareness campaign was launched barely a few weeks after Tambe Tiku was sworn-into office as pioneer Head of the Branch office of Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CHRC), Buea Southwest region by Justice Kenneth Ako Tanyi at the Fako High Court,Buea.

 Justice Kenneth Ako Tanyi,who ,last December 28, presided at the swearing-in strongly appealed  to  Tambe Tiku to use his new office  and  the powers legally conferred on him   to wage a relentless  war  against impunity in the Southwest  region. 

  Tambe Tiku was sworn-in alongside Blaise Chamango,who is the newly appointed rapporteur for the  CHRC Southwest office.

Cases of impunity in the Southwest region of Cameroon are reportedly a serious cause for concern, giving the false impression that some people are above the law.

Tambe Tiku and Blaise Chamango (middle) in family photo with judicial officials

 Justice Ako Tanyi  said   human rights promotion and protection is a critical  responsibility, adding that because of the complexities involved in its application it is not surprising to see  even some of  the most advanced countries with  very poor human rights records.

“Human rights promotion and protection is a constant fight; it is a fight that needs people who are determined and committed to be part of it”, Justice Ako Tanyi told Tambe Tiku . “You will have to be against established systems, economic barons, political heavy weights who are bent on [doing things their own way]. “That could be your challenge. But the responsibility is before you; you have to stand up for the protection of rights-the rights of detainees, women and minors facing the law.”

 Justice Ako Tanyi emphasized that Tambe Tiku must intensify the fight against impunity in the Southwest region.

“There are some people who believe that the law is for others and not for them. So long as you don’t have that commitment to fight impunity in this country, we won’t be making any progress. That should be your challenge-fighting impunity. Let everyone face the law and let the law be applied equally to everybody-no matter their sex, religion, political or economic stance.”

He urged them to discharge their duties with honesty, truthfulness, humility and without fear or favour.

Earlier in his submission before Tambe Tiku and Blaise Chamango were sworn-in, the State Counsel, Kilo Emmanuel, presented the establishment, organization and functioning of the CHRC and the CV’s of the two appointees.

The State Counsel  said the  Head  of the Branch office of the CHRC  Southwest Region ,Buea,was  appointed  on  18 August 2022 while Blaise Chamango was designated  rapporteur  on 4^th May 2022. He said the swearing in of the two staff was a legal requirement before they could assume their functions.

Kilo said the CHRC is responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights as well as the prevention of torture in all places of detection; to contribute in developing a human rights culture based on the ideals of peace, equal rights and responsibility, mutual respect and sustainable development; to strengthen the rule of law and combating impunity in the domain of human rights in particular.

Speaking to the press after taking the oath of office, Tambe Tiku said, “I agree with the presiding judge that there is a culture of impunity in our country. Some people think that they are above the laws or that they laws are meant for others. The rule of law cannot survive under such pretexts. We are going to lay a lot of emphasis in that area.”

He added that the Southwest CHRC office would focus not only on civil and political rights but also on gender issues and socio-economic rights.

“I would like to say that we have not been commissioned to launch a war against the authorities, but rather to complement the efforts of the Cameroon government in the area of the protection and promotion of human rights,” Tambe Tiku remarked.

He commended the contributions of civil society partners towards improving the human rights society in the country.

Tambe Tiku, who will turn 56 on April 11^th  this year, holds, among other qualifications, a Master’s degree (LLM in International Human Rights), from the University of Hull, UK. He has several children.

He  was formerly pioneer Southwest Regional Secretary the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms; currently a Board member of Elections Cameroon(ELECAM) and Assistant Lecturer ,Department of English law, University of Buea.

Blaise Chamango,who is married and father of three, holds among other professional certificates, a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Development. He is a member of several organizations.

 

Reconstruction of Cameroon's Southwest Region : Presidential Plan, SW Regional Assembly Prioritize Projects

 By Christopher Ambe

The  new  National Coordinator  of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction  and Development of the  Northwest and Southwest Regions(PPRD-NW/SW),Tamanjong  Motuba  Obase and his deputy, Njong Donatus  Fonyuy, last Thursday,January 12, met with  representatives of the Southwest Regional Assembly led by its President Zacheus Bakoma Elango and a delegation of  the UNDP officials  at Mountain Hotel Buea, to review   projects both institutions are executing  for the common good ,in order to avoid duplication of projects.

The PPRD-NW/SW team was meeting the SW Regional Assembly on the instruction of the the Director of Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s office, Balungeli Confiance Ebune , who doubles as  the Chair of the PPRD-NW/SW Steering Committee, according to a press release.

Minister Paul Tasong ,  appointed by a Prime Ministerial decree of  3rd April 2020 as the pioneer National Coordinator of the Presidential Plan was replaced  by Tamanjong  Motuba  Obase  on 4^th   November 2022 .

And the new National Coordinator is expected to continue executing the multi-billion Fcfa Presidential Plan, which is intended to boost socio-economic and infrastructural development in the crisis-stricken Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon.

Opening the meeting, the National Coordinator of the PPRD-NW/SW said his meeting with the Southwest Regional Assembly was an instruction from the Prime Minister, Head of Government , Joseph Dion Ngute ”who wants more activities in the field to improve the lot of the people”

Motuba  Obase  said the Presidential Plan was put in place in January 2020 to improve the living conditions of the People of the Northwest and Southwest regions negatively affected by the Anglophone crisis.

He disclosed that when he and his deputy met the Prime Minister upon their appointment, the latter instructed them “ to seek for more funding so that they can get more activities on the ground.”

The meeting reviewed the state of implementation of the PPRD-NW/SW in the Southwest region; examined the 2023 implementation strategy and prioritized projects to be carried out in the region this year.

President Zacheus Bakoma  Elango, speaking to the press after session, thanked the PPRD-NW/SW management team for initiating the meeting, which he said ended on a good note.

. The Regional Assembly President said, “The idea behind the meeting is to ensure that we avoid duplication of projects (what the Regional Assembly is doing and what the Presidential Plan will do) so that we more projects to improve on the welfare of our people.

“We had useful exchange and proposed projects that should be relocated. We are the ones in the fields and know our communities well.

“The National Coordinator has accepted our proposals and will go and fine-tune what they will do for this year.”

 

 

Cameroon:Dr & Mrs Ngongi Celebrate Marriage Golden Jubilee

*Archbishop Andrew Nkea attributes their marital success to Perseverance, love and forgiveness 

Dr and Mrs Namanga Ngongi renew Marriage vows before Archbishop Andrew Nkea
at the Holy Trinity Catholic church-Bota ,Limbe

 By Christopher Ambe

Dr. Amos Namanga Ngongi, aged 77 and Rebecca Ngongi renewed their marriage vows, to thunderous applause, as the couple celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary.

The vow renewal was done, on Sunday December 18, 2022, during a crowd-pulling mass at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church,Bota-Limbe, officiated by the Archbishop of the Bamenda Ecclesiastic Province, His Grace  Andrew Nkea,

Dr and Mrs Namanga Ngongi  pose for the camera

One could hear “I love you till death do us part”
as the spouses reaffirmed their commitment to each other before  Archbishop Nkea who beamed and then blessed them, wishing them many more years of divine health and happiness together.

The golden jubilee was staged in the couple’s 52^nd year in marriage because plans to celebrate it when they actually clocked 50 in marriage had been delayed by  restrictions on free movement and assembly ,provoked   by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Namanga Ngongi is a Cameroonian and retired senior UN official who holds a PhD in Agronomy from Cornell University (USA), among other certificates.  He served as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and as Head of UN Peace-keeping in DRC (from 2001-2003); worked with the World Food Program for 17 years and even became its Deputy Executive Director for seven years(1994-2001), managing more than ten thousand workers spread in  over 84 countries.

Dr. Ngongi also served for several years as Member of the United Nations Management Board.

 He retired in 2003 as a senior UN staff but was quickly contracted as President of Alliance for Green Revolution for Africa (AGRA), an Africa-led and Africa-based independent organization for food security -headquartered in Kenya, where he served for five years(2007-2012).He was member of the Board of the international Institute of Tropical Agriculture(IITA) from 2013 to 2020 and served as Chair from 2018-2020..

The wife, Rebecca Ngongi, with whom he has several successful children, is   now a retired civil servant.

Officiating at the Golden Jubilee Mass, His Grace Andrew Nkea said “When we are celebrating the 50^th anniversary of marriage we are celebrating the Grace of God; we are celebrating the power of the sacrament of matrimony.”

Dr and Mrs Namanga Ngongi  about to cut their golden jubilee cake

The Archbishop noted that the couple must have seen all kinds of “for better and worse” but as true Christians held on, conscious that “better vows unmade than vows unkept”

He said clocking 50 years and above in marriage was as a result of “perseverance, love and forgiveness”, noting, “This golden jubilee teaches us that with God all things are possible; that marriage is not an impossibility”

He urged all couples having difficulties in marriage to emulate the example of Dr. and Mrs. Ngongi and live together till death separates them

Commending the couple for their loyalty to each other, the Archbishop prayed God to grant them many more fruitful and healthy years together until such a time that God himself will call them to His Kingdom.

However, he regretted that today the rate of divorce is so high.  “There is so much divorce in society because of the lack of perseverance, love and forgiveness”, the prelate observed.

He further lamented that today young people are quick to say “I love you but divorce sooner than later”

The Archbishop warned those intending to get married that it is not the proclamation but the perseverance that makes marriage.

The Golden Jubilee party took place at Atlantic Beach Hotel-Limbe and was chaired by Professor Dorothy L. Njeuma, former Vice-Chancellor of University of Buea,former Rector of University of Yaounde 1 and currently  Board member of ELECAM. At the well-attended reception, Archbishop Andrew Nkea handed to Dr. and Mrs. Ngongi a Congratulatory Message for Golden jubilee of Marriage from his Holiness Pope Francis.

 Prof. Njeuma thanked God for enabling the couple to live together for over 50 years and for giving the multitude of guests and family members an opportunity to join them celebrate.

She lauded Dr. Ngongi’s humility in spite of his enormous achievements and the leadership role he played as diplomat not only in the area of agriculture where he served for many years in Rome, but also as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She paid special tribute to Mrs. Rebecca Ngongi for being the pillar in the house as her husband globe-trotted serving humanity in different capacities. “Mrs. Ngongi has been the pillar that has brought up very successful children”, Prof. Njeuma pointed out.

In his response, Dr. Ngongi reiterated his love for the wife as the latter beamed .He particularly thanked Archbishop Nkea for taking time off his busy schedule to grace the jubilee.

Dr. Ngongi was very elated with the presence of some of the people who mattered during his wedding .They included the Best man , the Master of Ceremony , the Chief Bridesmaid and the  protocol man.

“It is rare in life to get to my age, celebrate more than 50 years of marriage and you have so many of your friends celebrate with you”, remarked Dr. Ngongi as he acknowledged the presence of many of his long-time friends and invoked sweet memories  of their past.

Other dignitaries who took part in the jubilee celebrations included the Mayor of Buea, David Mafani Namange and Chief of Great Soppo, Buea,His Highness Etina Monono.

Dr. Amos Namanga Ngongi was born in Buea in 1945

 

 

 

US-based Cameroonian Assists DAREM

Esmeralda Kale & Marietta Nkweta   with DAREM staff in family photo

 By Christopher Ambe

A Cameroonian woman based in Chicago-USA, Esmeralda Nkweta kale,  January 3, 2023, visited DARAJA REUBE MBORORO DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (DAREM) office in Buea and donated a video projector to it, promising to help source funding for the association, which empowers under-privileged communities.

According to Madam Zainab Abdullahi, CEO/founder of DAREM, the association empowers vulnerable communities and groups on Gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, does health sensitization, trains less-privileged women on income-generating activities as well as   promotes and protects rights of women and girls, among other duties.

Esmeralda Nkweta Kale,who is the George and Mary LeCron Foster Curator,Melville J Hershkovits Library of African Studies,Northwestern University, USA (the first woman and black person to hold that postion) was accompanied to DAREM office by her sister, Marietta Nkweta, Data Quality Analyst, Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), UK. Both sisters are philanthropists.

Esmeralda Nkweta Kale is wife of emeritus Professor Macdonald Ndombo Kale,who resides in the USA and is interested in the activities of DAREM.

Nkweta Kale said they came visiting DAREM office in Boduma-Buea “because I have heard about them; I am on the DAREM Board and have come to find out more ways in which I can help them foster this project.”

Esmeralda Kale(left) donates projector

She said the education and exposure of women is very important and “if I can help women in less fortunate situations open up avenues of exposure, education and independence, then I am more than willing to help-reason why I am here”.

  Nkweta Kale promised to get a functional website for DAREM, so that it can get national and international presence, as well as source for regular funding from international organizations for the association.

She donated an ultra-modern projector to DAREM to improve its education/sensitization activities.

For her part, Marietta Nkweta said she was impressed by the work DAREM has been carrying out to empower the less-privileged communities, an initiative which, she added, needs much support from people of goodwill and other philanthropic organizations.

The CEO/Founder of DAREM, Madam Zainab Abdullahi who happily received her two visitors in audience, told this reporter that DAREM’s vision is an inclusive world with justice and peace for all.

“Our mission is to promote and protect the rights of indigenous minority group- the Mbororo people in Cameroon especially the women and girls,” she noted, regretting that most Mbororo girls are being denied their rights to education and are instead sent for early marriages.

Esmeralda Kale & Marietta Nkweta in audience with DAREM,Zainab Abdullahi

  Zainab revealed that the Anglophone Crisis has internally displaced

several thousands of Mbororo people (of the Northwest region, Cameroon) who are now in towns such as Buea,Tiko and Limbe,Bangem and Kumba of the Southwest region of Cameroon and that these IDPs are finding it difficult to adapt to town life. (The Mbororo men are turning into taxi drivers, soya sellers and car washers, which was not originally their way of life) 

The CEO said DAREM educates parents of Mbororo girls on the importance of education, so that they send their daughters to school; she noted that DAREM also trains their mothers on income-generating activities, so they raise money and support their children in school.

“We train them and provide start-up capital for them to kick-start their business”, Zainab said, adding that those who receive seed capital are followed-up for six months to ensure proper management of the grant.

“ In 2022, DAREM trained 500 Mbororo women on income-generating activities and they are doing well…we have succeeded to enroll many of these girls in private schools.We have the Anglo-Arabic Primary and Secondary School in Buea where these girls can go and feel religiously and culturally protected,” she revealed.

She appealed for financial support from Cameroon government and donor organizations to help DAREM impact more on less-privileged communities.

 DAREM, which has been in existence for eight years, has branch offices in Bamenda (Northwest Region) and in the West region of Cameroon. Most of its workers are volunteers.