LOCAL SOLUTION: THE PERFECT TOOL FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

By Stephen Ojang in Wum

Participatory approach as all hands come on deck.

A Nigerian Ace singer, Charles Blackman in one of his song title "old good days," ponders when these old good days will come back again. This rhetorical reminiscence, was the driving force behind the recent move made by the population of Ndakwe in Wum Municipality, to maintain and upgrade their community water scheme, as their own contribution in curbing the perennial water scarcity in the Municipality.

They felt nostalgic when their water could not meet their desired needs. They also knew that doing it together for themselves and by themselves, will yield fruits reasons why they worked as a team for the sake of their community.
Today’s development pattern requires that we focus our lens on the community thereby fostering the bottom top development approach as a perfect move of decentralization for effective and efficient development.

How many of us can still vividly recall how our various communities back then use to mobilize themselves as a formidable force to reckon with, to dig gutters, roads linking one quarter to the other or one village to the other, clean farm to market roads, keep their water catchment areas clean as is the case today with the Ndakwe water management committee.
We all practice this without any form of external support and together we all succeeded. We did it so happily as if we didn’t need support. This old habit has been an inspiration to the Ndakwe Water Management Committee, led by its Vice President Mr. Abeng Charles, with financial assistance from the Management Committee President Mayor Dighambong Anthony as they recently came out to keep their water catchment clean.

They also earmarked the construction of an additional catchment tank so as to be able to supply enough water to the Ndakwe population and even beyond. A total number of 10 public stand taps and 65 privately owned stand taps, supply 360 households. The Secretary General of the Ndakwe Water Management Committee, Mr. Fang Kum Adolf, flanked by a team from the Wum Council, made up of the Chief of Technical Service and Urban Development, Mr. Felefusah Asang Hosea, the Council Development Officer, CDO Mr. Eboa Akelendi Ku-Isoh and the Council Communication Officer, Mr. Stephen Ojang, had earlier paid visits to the catchment and dished out pieces of advice in order to enable the committee to jealously preserve the water project and bequeath it to younger generations.

The entire Ndakwe community carried out the cleaning exercise, the maintenance and projection for the construction of a new catchment tank. Their hope is now turned to the Wum council, to step in with a fresh impetus for the advancement of the project.
This giant step taken by then Ndakwe population is a great indication that the wind of change is conspicuously blowing across the municipality as many communities are now embracing the new development concept of local solution. This community oriented action by the Ndakwe population is worth emulating.

Permit me to end this write-up with a quotation from the Mayor of Wum Council, Councillor Dighambong Anthony Mvo;
"It is evident that together, we can build bridges, hospitals, schools, halls, and farm to market roads and together we can build ourselves."

COUNCILLORS VOTE AN AMBITIOUS BUDGET FOR RECONCILIATION AND RECONSTRUCTION FOR 2020

Councillors of the Wum Council have braved the odds and broken the even to examine, scrutinize, vote and adopt the 2020 Budget for the Wum Council. Charged with the power to transform their various constituencies, these councilors have adopted the 2020 budget that balances in revenue and Expenditure at the sum of Nine hundred and thirty five million, three hundred and thirty thousand (935,330.000) Francs CFA, this represents an increase of 16.2% of the Budget for 2019. The Investment Budget is Five hundred and seventy four million, One hundred  and Ninety two thousand, seven hundred and sixty seven  (574,192,767) francs CFA, giving a percentage of 61.4% which is more than the stipulated minimum amount of at least 40% of the total Budget.

  The operating or functional expenses stand at Three hundred and sixty one million, one hundred and thirty seven thousand two hundred and thirty three (361.137.233) Francs that is 38.6% which is less than the prescribed maximum of 60% of the total Budget. The personnel expenses is Ninety eight million two hundred and twenty seven thousand, two hundred and thirty three (98.227.233) Francs, that gives a percentage of 27.2% of the functional budget, which is again is less than the required maximum of 35% of the functional Budget.

 To Councilor Dighambong Anthony Mvo, Lord Mayor of Wum Council, the increase takes into cognizance, state credits. Baptized as “the budget of Reconciliation and Reconstruction”, the 2020 Budget can be described as ambitious, visible and above all realistic, since 60% of the budget is investment oriented.

Welcoming councilors and other guests, the Lord Mayor called for a minute of silence in honour of all those who lost their lives in the current socio-political stalemate rocking the North-West and South-West Regions. He then proceeded to enumerate the projects earmarked for the year 2019. These include;

The above statistics have been streamlined to realize the projects below, whose details can be gotten from the annual Investment  Plan drawn out village by village and as per their different Ministries  and of course the cost attached. The projects are:

-         Supply of 2 tables and 2 chairs to GS Zatesang,

-         Construction of a blokc of 2 classrooms and a regular Office in GS Zatesang;

-         Supply of Benches to GS Zatesang;

-         Supply of materials for inclusive education

-         Supply of teaching Aids for Inclusive education;

-         Support to BIHNDUMLEM for the Empowering of rural woen in Economic and social Life;

-         Rehabitation of GPS Group I;

-         Rehabilitation of GPS groups II;

-         Supply of Benches to some Primary Schools;

-         Construction of 34 Market Sheds in the wum main market;

-         Support in the LRAS in the fight against Plastic materials;

-         Construction of an Agric Post in the Wum council;

-         Rehabilitation of the Naikom - Ketcha – Naikom Road (11Km)

-         Grading of (9KM) of some streets in Wum Town;

-         Equipment of Ukpwa Health Centre

-         Equipment of Wum District Hospital;

-         Equipment of Bu Health Centre;

-         Support to Vulnerable population in Wum Council;

-         Equipment of Women Empowerment Centre Wum;

-         Rehabilitation of the Women Empowerment Centre in Wum Council;

-         Construction of a mini  fence round the Women Empowerment Centre in Wum;

-         Construction of Wum main roundabout;

-         Purchase of second handed Front head loader;

-         Opening of gutters from TRADEX Petrol station to Lake Nyos Hotel;

-         Construction of a metallic culvert (D.1.000) between Sir Wallang’s building and the main market

-         Construction of an Embarkment behind the  Wum main market

-         Construction of a vip toilet at the wum council office

-         Rehabilitation of water source at waindo

-         Rehabilitation of two classroom at GS Aguli

-         Organization of Wum council Tournament;

-         Construction of a Box culvert on JOPACC road;

-         Rehabilitation of Catchment and Extension of water in Cheregha village;

-         Construction of a Monument at Post Office roundabout         

The Senior Divisional Officer for Menchum Division, represented by Mr. Oteh Philip, lauded the efforts of the Wum Council in fostering development, as councilors adopted the 2020 budget despite the tensions. He used the occasion to call on all to see what to do at one’s level, to end violence, by being bearers of message of peace to separatist fighters since they all are our brothers.

To him, since the struggle began, we have not found the direction to the solution therefore; we all need to move towards finding a lasting solution to the crisis by ending hostilities. Stopping does not mean that the battle is lost, but a strategic halt to give chance to a long lasting solution.

          He also appreciated the council for selecting projects from the Council Development Plan CDP, thereby ensuring equitable development of the municipality as per planning.

Mayor Dighambong Anthony Mvo called on councilors, the Council Exco, the administration and partners of the council to collaborate to help realize the budget which is only a draft. He said the council is going through tough times due to the prevailing socio-political crisis in the region with many businesses reluctant to pay their taxes.

Mrs. Berthy Bikuchung Cheng Edickson

He also used the occasion to appreciate the Secretary General of Wum Council, Mrs Berthy Bikuchung Cheng Edickson, for her selfless services to the wellbeing and Development of the Wum Council. She moves to Kumbo Council in same capacity.

The Council Session was also a perfect opportunity for the Mayor to present the awards he received during these difficult moments. One as best Mayor of the North-West region and one as the only anglophone participant at an international training for local administration, in Korea by the Korean International Cooperation Agency, KOICA.

Mayor brandishing cerificate from Korea

Mayor presenting award from AFRIK-INFO.COM

The major sources of revenue would remain taxes, fiscal revenue, transfers from the state and proceeds from council property.

Closing the session, The Mayor of Wum Council, implored the councilors to put the interest of their population above all other and for each to contribute their quota to meet up with the target of the municipality. He advised them to take the current crisis as a challenge, go out and sensitize the population in order to meet up with the target of the budget of Reconciliation and Reconstruction.

ADDRESS PRESENTED BY COUNCILLOR DIGHAMBONG ANTHONY MVO AT THE 2020 DRAFT BUDGET

Mayor Dighambong Welcoming Councillors

AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY COUNCILLOR DIGHAMBONG ANTHONY MVO, LORD MAYOR OF THE WUM COUNCIL, ON THE OCCASION OF THE EXAMINATION AND ADOPTION OF THE 2020 DRAFT BUDGET, TODAY 14^TH OF NOVEMBER 2019 AT THE WUM TOWN HALL.

Ø THE SENIOR DIVISIONAL OFFICER FOR MENCHUM,

Ø THE DIVISIONAL OFFICER WUM SUB DIVISION,

Ø MEMBERS OF THE UPPER AND LOWER HOUSES OF ASSEMBLY

Ø HONOURABLE COUNCILLORS,

Ø DIVISIONAL DELEGATES AND SERVICE HEADS,

Ø POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES,

Ø FONS AND ARDOS,

Ø PERSIDENTS OF DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS,

Ø ECONOMIC OPERATORS ,

Ø PRESIDENTS OF SOCIO PROFESSSIONAL GROUPS,

Ø EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ELITE,

Ø DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMENT;

It is with great joy that I am standing on behalf of  the Councillor and staff of Wum council for the sixth consecutive time to welcome you all to this annual rendez-vous of budget session. We want to welcome in a special way the Senior Divisional Officer for Menchum Division Mr. ABDOULAHI ALIOU, in abstention due to some unforeseen circumstances and  who was supposed  to attend for the first time.

I would like to thank all and sundry for the wonderful collaboration, support and sacrifices each and every one of you gave us to be able to record the wonderful successes that we have together achieved. I really lack words to appreciate your unlimited prayers to us. I preserve you all in the innermost of my heart. Thank you so much and my wish is for God to hear my prayers to you all as we continue to pray for you each other.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

          We have scored the goals for our mandate, our promises realized, our achievements are visible that even the blind and the dumb who cannot see nor hear would touch or feel. We have been able to open the roads to make it practicable for us all. This would not have ever been possible without your inspiration. I am today and would forever remain indebted to these prayers. All I can say is “Happiness keeps you sweet! trials keep you strong! sorrows keep you human! Failures keep you Humble! And Gog Keeps you going!”.

Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen,

          We are all witnesses of the difficulties and challenges we are facing today due to the socio-political situation in our two English speaking regions. As we all can testify, it has resulted to a decadence of our economic activities. It is in this light therefore, that the 2020 budget for Wum Council Christened “the budget of Reconciliation and Reconstruction” has witnessed an increase to make up with what we have not been able to accomplish and for us to have a very realistic and feasible budget that would serve and meet the aspirations and needs of the population. The budget we are about to examine balances in revenue and Expenditure at the sum of Nine hundred and thirty five million, three hundred and thirty thousand (935,330.000) Francs CFA, this represents an increase of 16.2% of the Budget for 2019. The Investment Budget is Five hundred and seventy four million, One hundred  and Ninety two thousand, seven hundred and sixty seven  (574,192,767) francs CFA, giving a percentage of 61.4% which is more than the stipulated minimum amount of at least 40% of the total Budget.

The operating or functional expenses stand at Three hundred and sixty one million, one hundred and thirty seven thousand two hundred and thirty three (361.137.233) Francs that is 38.6% which is less than the prescribed maximum of 60% of the total Budget. The personnel expenses is Ninety eight million two hundred and twenty seven thousand, two hundred and thirty three (98.227.233) Francs, that gives a percentage of 27.2% of the functional budget, which is again is less than the required maximum of 35% of the functional Budget.

          Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

          The above statistics have been streamlined to realize the projects below, whose details can be gotten from the annual Investment  Plan drawn out village by village and as per their different Ministries  and of course the cost attached. The projects are:

-         Supply of 2 tables and 2 chairs to GS Zatesang,

-         Construction of a blokc of 2 classrooms and a regular Office in GS Zatesang;

-         Supply of Benches to GS Zatesang;

-         Supply of materials for inclusive education

-         Supply of teaching Aids for Inclusive education;

-         Support to BIHNDUMLEM for the Empowering of rural woen in Economic and social Life;

-         Rehabitation of GPS Group I;

-         Rehabilitation of GPS groups II;

-         Supply of Benches to some Primary Schools;

-         Construction of 34 Market Sheds in the wum main market;

-         Support in the LRAS in the fight against Plastic materials;

-         Construction of an Agric Post in the Wum council;

-         Rehabilitation of the Naikom - Ketcha – Naikom Road (11Km)

-         Grading of (9KM) of some streets in Wum Town;

-         Equipment of Ukpwa Health Centre

-         Equipment of Wum District Hospital;

-         Equipment of Bu Health Centre;

-         Support to Vulnerable population in Wum Council;

-         Equipment of Women Empowerment Centre Wum;

-         Rehabilitation of the Women Empowerment Centre in Wum Council;

-         Construction of a mini  fence round the Women Empowerment Centre in Wum;

-         Construction of Wum main roundabout;

-         Purchase of second handed Front head loader;

-         Opening of gutters from TRADEX Petrol station to Lake Nyos Hotel;

-         Construction of a metallic culvert (D.1.000) between Sir Wallang’s building and the main market

-         Construction of an Embarkment behind the  Wum main market

-         Construction of a vip toilet at the wum council office

-         Rehabilitation of water source at waindo

-         Rehabilitation of two classroom at GS Aguli

-         Organization of Wum council Tournament;

-         Construction of a Box culvert on JOPACC road;

-         Rehabilitation of Catchment and Extension of water in Cheregha village;

-         Construction of a Monument at Post Office roundabout.

           Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

          I know the challenges we all go through on daily basis are quite enormous, but all I continue to reiterate is that, we should practice the spirit of forgiveness and togetherness. We know that even though the eyes don’t see each other, they see things together, blink simultaneously and cry together. The teeth bites the tongue every moment, but they are condemned to stay together. Let us learn from Mahatma Ghandi who says “truth alone will endure: all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time”. Also Edgar Mohn quips “A lie has speed, but truth has endurance”.

          Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

 Our right and wrong circumstances should always be our real moments of looking up to God for his ever great intervention, for when you are winning a battle the devil becomes very fierce. May we continue to work together and to share together all for the glory of God and for the good of mankind. We must continue to do something as individuals or families, in thanks giving for our being and for our dear Municipality.

          Long live the Wum Municipality

            Long live the Ministry of Decentralization and Local Development

             Long live the Republic of Cameroon.

Kamga Charles Hands-over Menchum to Abdoulahi Aliou & moves to other duties

By Stephen Ojang

Governor Lele Lafrique reading the installation speech

Menchum Division now has a new SDO. Abdoulahi Aliou took over command from Kamga Charles. The installation cum handing over ceremony was presided at by the North West regional Governor, Mr. LELE Lafrique Tchoffo Deben Adolphe. 

One of the major administrative changes that took place in the North West and South West regions after the holding of the Major National Dialogue in Yaoundé from October 1st to the 5th 2019, ordered by the Head of State to address the ongoing Anglophone Crisis and other issues of national concern and which ended with a resolution to grant special statues to these two regions was a presidential decree No. 2019/536 of 07 October 2019 appointing S.D.Os across the national territory. From the appointments, Abdoulahi Aliou, previously Divisional Officer (D.O) of Nkong-Ni was promoted to the rank of Senior Divisional Officer for Menchum Division in replacement of Kamga Charles, called to other duties. 

Dighambong Anthony Mvo, Lord Mayor Wum Council

During the installation ceremony that took place on the Wum ceremonial grandstand on Wednesday October 16 2019, the Mayor of the municipality, Dighambong Anthony Mvo told the outgoing prefect that his constant words of encouragement  to all in every seating will be remembered and that his reassurances was a motivational factor to the well-being of the population. We would continue to remember your approach of “ehemm, eheem” which gave us hope that you were listening even if at the end, the answer was not favourable.  We learnt from you that administrators being human as they are can also say “I am sorry”,when they at times cannotlive to the expectations oftheir population. We acknowledge your tact, clairvoyance, ingenuity, savior fair, wisdom, self-service, simplicity and fatherliness in handling the socio-political unrest in the Division.  If calm and serenity is gradually and steadily returning to Wum and Menchum Division, it is due to your astute and heroic qualities of a seasoned Administrator. The people of Menchum Division have nothing to give you as you move to your next assigned state duty, no gold nor silver but our beautiful hearts and prayers you have, to cover you and your family now and always.

Kamga Charles, outgoing SDO for Menchum

To the incoming, the Wum Municipal Magistrate said “It is with great anxiety, curiosity and hope of better days that I welcome Mr. ABDOULAHI ALIOU, our 33^rd Senior Divisional Officer, of course the age of Jesus Christ. We are therefore optimistic that you are going to be Christ like throughout your stay with us. I want to heartily congratulate your appointment to this Division well known and described as the nursery for administrators wishing to move up the Administrative Ladder. Mr. Senior Divisional Officer, you are coming at a moment when the Akus and the Hausas are pitted against the natives. I want to congratulate and salute the collaboration of the elite both at home and abroad who have done everything possible for peace to begin to return in this land. The challenge of bringing back these communities to once again truly love each other is going to be your first litmus test. This needs very urgent attention not to degenerate to another deplorable situation. After all, the intense farmer grazier conflict was partly solved by the Koumpa Isa Commission report which is the most talked today during one of his working sessions in Wum. He spoke in the dialect to reason most of the fulanis which yielded results. After all, Roger Crawford quips “We are the product of the choices we make, not the circumstances that we face”. We are all here present as a testimony to accompany you succeeds in your daunting task of Developing this Division. The Mayor hopes that the Lord that appoints will continue to empower his servants with wisdom to serve his people.  He also gave him some proposals, to cure the disease affecting the Menchum people, as he said; “to achieve these, the panacea shall be nothing other than;

§  Create a cordial and enabling relationship with the local population

§  Organize and improve on skills to help people live together

§  Engage a serious fight against insecurity, curb the rampant cases of robbery, consumption of marijuana etc.

§  Provide solutions to the protracted farmer-grazer conflict gradually escalating to an intertribal war

§  Modeling your supervisory role over councils not to be an arm or domination but rather to accompany the mayors develop their various municipalities

§  Live with your people, by your people and for your people to provide adequate solutions to the socio-political unrest plaguing the North west and South West Regions.

This is my humble advice to you, for a talent is cheaper than table salt, and charisma without character is equal to an everlasting “Had I known”.

The Mayor of Wum Council ended with an optimistic thought “Today therefore, I assure you, our future is brighter than everything they have said or done to us”

Abdoulahi Aliou, newly installed SDO for Menchum

The regional governor in his speech during the official handing over of command between Kamga Charles and Abdoulahi Aliou began by thanking all attendees for braving the odds to be at the event ground. After listening to the worries expressed by the mayor on behalf of the population, the governor told him "You know as well as I know that when normalcy returns, all these concerns will receive attention from the government." He then proceeded to address the two SDOs, the population and traditional leaders that are auxiliaries of the administration. In appreciating his stewardship within his term of office as he handled the administration and crisis in his division with tact and commitment to fatherland, the governor through a quotation from Martin Luther, told Kamga Charles "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenges and controversy." "We of the North West wish you God's guidance and protection as you take up service in the Centre after five years in the region." he added

 In outlining the functions of the incoming civil administrator, the governor told the new Senior Divisional Officer (S.D.O) that his role shall be  to ensure maintenance and enforcement of law and order,  ensure general coordination and control of administrative action in the division, facilitate the return of all displaced persons to their places of origin within the division, coordinate and supervise distribution of aid to affected persons, monitor and supervise international organisations and local partners helping I.D.Ps and the affected population in the division,  ensure schools resume, fighters drop their arms and bring the current crisis to a final end in Menchum. "Though new here, you should know the milieu very well." Lele told Abdoulahi. "I'm confident that you are up to the task and will be up to the expectations of the people." he added. As last piece of advice to the new servant, governor Adolph Lele told him point blank "Your success here will depend on the collaboration and support you receive from the population, elites and local leaders"

 

cross section of the population

The governor's message to the population, elites, politicians and traditional leaders of the division did not miss its target because one of the concerned answered the call of the head of state last September 10th 2019. 

ex-fighter beggin for forviveness

The event was given the grandeur it deserves as the regional boss used the occasion, to drive home the following message. "Dear parents,  please talk to your children,  the future of this nation, that they should come back like the prodigal son to join the family for the father is ready to give them new opportunities and involve them in nation building. There is no home, family, society without problems but we all have individual and collective responsibilities to solve our problems. Therefore, give your full and unflinching support to your new SDO so that Menchum Division regains its glorious days" These were the concluding words of Adolph Lele Lafrique as he ended his installation speech. 

 

Governor welcoming home the ex-fighter

Menchum Divion's new Senior Divisional Officer, was born on the twenty-eighth of September nineteen seventy-four (28/09/1974) in KONTCHA. He did his primary and secondary education in Government School KONTCHA and Government High school TIGNÈRE from where he respectively obtained his C.E.P.E., B.E.P.C., Probatoire and Bac-A4-Allemand.

After obtaining his Baccalauréat Certificate, he embraced higher Education and from nineteen ninety-five (1995) to the year two thousand (2000), he studied in the University of NGOUNDERE and obtained a licence and maitrise in political history.

A year later, he succeeded in the competitive entrance examination into the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) and graduated in two thousand and three (2003) with an ENAM diploma in General Administration.

He has since then served in the following capacities:

-      From June two thousand and three (2003) to May two thousand and five (2005), he served as a support staff at the Ministries of Public Service and Administrative Reform and the then Ministry of the Economy and Finance;

-      From May two thousand and five (2005) to December two thousand and six (2006), he was Assistant Research Officer No 1 at the former Directorate of Salaries at the Ministry of Finance.

-      From December two thousand and six (2006) to January two thousand and eleven (2011), he was the Legal and Financial Affairs Adviser at the West Governor’s Office in BAFOUSSAM.

-      From January two thousand and eleven (2011) to September twenty seventeen (2017), he was Divisional Officer for KAELE Sub-division.

-      Until his last appointment to the helm of MENCHUM Division, he was Divisional Officer for NKONG-NI Sub-division in the MENOUA Division since September twenty seventeen (2017).

He is a Senior Administrative Officer, married and a father of ten (10) children.

Menchum Division was created in 1948 under the Native authority. This Division and her hospitable and legendary people cover a total surface area of 4489km², with a population of about 251,998 inhabitants. The Division that gave birth to the present Boyo Division is made up of four Sub Divisions, namely; Furu-Awa, Fungom, Menchum Valley and Wum that doubles as the Divisional Headquarters. It is a border Division sharing a very long border with the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Division is endowed with huge natural, touristic and human resources which if well harnessed and exploited, would make it Cameroon in miniature.  Some of these are, the rich volcanic and luminous soils, favourable climate, forestry, our famous Menchum fall and KastinaAlah which can be used to export electrical energy. The Division is rich in flora and fauna, blessed with five creater lakes, amongst which is the famous Lake Nyos. You would not afford to miss the Bu rice as well as the Esimbi Oil.