IMPROVE YOUR LIFE

                                                               CHANGE YOUR LIFE
You can do so by taking one of the following actions:

1. ACTION COIN

Open an account with the Canadian cryptocurrency known as Action Coin, either as an individual or for your business. If you open for yourself, Action Coin credits your account with 100 Action, which is equivalent to 100 USA Dollars. In return, you are required to use the currency and encourage others to do same. In addition, Action Coin advertizes your business on its international advertizing platform without you paying anything extra. The platform is visible in over 200 countries worldwide. I am a Brand Ambassador for Action Coin

2. HELPING HANDS INTERNATIONAL (H2i)

This is an international NGO whose objective is to combat poverty by empowering the needy. You make a token one-off financial contribution, get two other people to do they same and they in turn get two others to do the same. You earn bonuses as you go along and your network grows. You can also earn goods like computers, cars and even houses, in addition to other benefits which H2i offers. H2i walks away (so to speak) smiling too because it uses part of that money to run its services but above all, to support the needy around the world. I am Cameroon National Adviser for H2i and Coordinator for the country`s South West Region.

3. USE YOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO EARN A VALID UNIVERSITY DEGREE

The institution that offers you this golden opportunity is located in France at 8 Rue Jacquart in the city of Vandoeuvres-les-Nancy, in Meurthe-et-Moselle Division (Department) and the Grand Est Region. It is fully accredited by the French government and is empowered to award degrees in a wide range of fields up to the PhD. Its degrees are recognized by UNESCO and accepted worldwide. You do not need to know French to earn a degree from them because their focus is your years of work experience. What`s more, they can even award your degree in other European languages, including English . So, it`s not only in French! The mathematical formula used is that three years of work experience are equated to one year of full time university studies. I am the university`s representative in Central and West Africa. You can visit their website at <www.sorbon.fr>.

4. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

The world is going professional. Don`t get left out or allow your loved ones to be left out. The Institute of Vocational and Professional Training (IVPROT) which is located here in Buea offers you an 18-month professional Diploma course in eight departments: Agriculture, Secretaryship and Office Administration (including legal secretaryship, accounting secretaryship, and bilingual secretaryship), Translation, Journalism and Mass Communication, Accounting and Finance, Management and related fields, as well as eight Languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Arabic, and Swahili). I am the institution`s President.

Visit us at: The Blue Campus, Entrance Opposite Infinity Building, Health Centre Street, Sosoliso-Molyko, P.O. Box 1572, Molyko Post Office, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon. TEL: (237) 67322 4352 (President) or (237) 677203801 (Secretary General). EMAIL: tikummbahazonga@gmail.com

AMAZING GRACE: EARN A DEGREE THROUGH WORK EXPERIENCE

AMAZING GRACE: EARN A DEGREE THROUGH WORK EXPERIENCE:  A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU It`s said that an opportunity knocks only once. If this is what you had been looking for, then seize it  an...

EARN A DEGREE THROUGH WORK EXPERIENCE

 A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU


It`s said that an opportunity knocks only once. If this is what you
had been looking for, then seize it  and use your experiences to
obtain a higher qualification and thereby raise your social status.
It`a all about converting your years of practical job experience into
a university degree without having to leave your job and go back to
school or even having to write an exam. You can do it from anywhere in
the world without having to travel.

What is more is that this procedure which is possible through the
ECOLE SUPERIEURE ROBERT DE SORBON in France whose representative I am
in Central and West Africa, is perfectly recognized by the French
Government, the European Union, the UN, the UK and the USA, as well as worldwide.
However, if you live or work outside of these regions, we can still be
useful in you obtaining the qualification.

Basically, three years of full time work experience is equivalent to
one year of university studies for a Bachelor`s degree. So, ...
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FOR MORE ON THIS STORY, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW. IF IT DOES NOT OPEN, OPEN IT AND PASTE IT IN THE ADDRESS BAR AT THE TOP OF YOUR SCREEN:

http://www.simplesite.com/builder/pages/preview3.aspx?pageid=434791639&url=http%3a%2f%2fazongaazocs.simplesite.com%2f434791639&return=%2fbuilder%2fpages%2feditpagecontent.aspx%3fpageid%3d434791639%26gotoPos%3d297&previewtype=Default

THANK YOU, MY FRIENDS

Dear  friends,

I have received numerous messages of congratulations from you on my new position as President and Board Chairman of the Institute of Vocational and Professional Training (IVPROT) based here in Buea , South West Region of Cameroon. As you are so many out there, permit me to send this single message to you all.
IVPROT is indeed a dream come true because it is an opportunity that enables me to combine in a single venture my many years of studies and experience as a teacher of French and Spanish as well as journalism and mass communication, translator-interpreter, practicing journalist and speaker of over ten languages in Cameroon, almost all of Africa and France and Great Britain.

Our institute is the answer to training for the job market not only for young Cameroonians but also young people from other parts of the world. We strive to bridge the gap between provision of skills and the job market. That is why our courses are so streamlined that after one year trainees can obtain the National Diploma (ND) and either immediately create jobs for themselves or they gain employment somewhere else.

Our approach is practical in nature. Holders of the National Diploma (ND) or its equivalent can spend another year and obtain the Higher Professional Diploma (HPD) which is equivalent to the Higher National Diploma (HND) and equivalent to the Francophone Brevet de Technicien Supérieur (BTS). Holders of any of those three qualifications or an equivalent can take another year and prepare for the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Two years after the BBA, they can obtain the Master of Business Administration (MBA).

We are currently running seven departments in which students take general courses and then specialize in one area. These are

(1) Agriculture (Crop production, animal husbandry, poultry farming, fish farming & bee farming)
(2) Secretaryship and office administration (accounting secretaryship, bilingual secretaryship, legal secretaryship & medical secretaryship)
(3)Translation (general translation and specialized translation including public service translation, legal translation, business and economic translation, scientific and technical translation & literary translation)
(4) Journalism (broadcast journalism, print journalism, advertizing and public relations)
(5) Accounting & Finance (computerized accounting, bookkeeping, financial management, banking)
(6)Management (marketing management, insurance, leisure and tourism, hotel management and catering, human resource management, entrepreneurship & business development, business management, logistics and transport, guidance and counselling)
(7) Languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese, Arabic)

Our training for the ND which we are starting in this January 2017 lasts one year and includes internship and the writing of a project. Teaching is done in English. However, applicants who come to us with other languages of instruction such as French, Spanish, Portuguese, etc can start by taking our one-year special English course, after which their level of English will be brought to the level where they can attend lectures in English.

Tuition fee for the year is 150 000 Frs CFA which includes the 15 000 Franc registration fee. In addition, applicants pay 93 000 Frs CFA which covers administrative and student utility (identification card, official wear, basic text books, caution fee which is refundable at end of course, Students Union (IVPROTSU) registration fee, etc). That makes it a total of 243 000 Frs CFA, which is about 375 Euros, or about 310 US Dollars, or about 320 GBR Pounds.

Since we encourage all our trainees to be able to drive by the time they graduate, we require those who do not yet drive to take our driving course up to award of the driver`s licence by the Ministry of Transport for an additional cost of 100 000 Frs CFA.

International students should contact us and check because their fees are different from those stated above.
However, if an applicant is recommended by a friend here on Linkedin, then that applicant will have an automatic discount of 50 000 Frs CFA.

We at IVPROT wish you all a Happy New Year!

Contact us at The Institute of Vocational and Professional Training (IVPROT), The Blue Campus, Health Centre Entrance, Opposite Infinity Building, Sosoliso-Molyko, Buea. P.O. Box 1572, Molyko Post Office, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon. TEL: (237): 68289 1407 (Office 1), (237) 69658 7645 (Office 2), (237) 69996 8663 (President), (237) 67720 3801 (Human Resource Officer) EMAIL: ivprotinstitute@gmail.com

AMAZING GRACE: HOW MEN OF GOD GOT IT WRONG FOR 2016

AMAZING GRACE: HOW MEN OF GOD GOT IT WRONG FOR 2016: As we are entering the new year 2017, the Nigerian online organ <Naija.com> has published some prophesies by seven Nigeria top men of ...

HOW MEN OF GOD GOT IT WRONG FOR 2016

As we are entering the new year 2017, the Nigerian online organ <Naija.com> has published some prophesies by seven Nigeria top men of God that did not come to pass in 2016 as earlier predicted by them. The leading pastors are (1) Reverend Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry (2) Pastor E. A. Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God , (3) Prophet T.B. Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, (4) Apostle Johnson Suleiman of the Omega Fire Ministry, (5) Prophet Joshua Iginla who is General Overseer of Champions Royal Assembly, (6) Prophet Muyideen Kasali who is General Overseer of the Hour of Mercy Prayer Ministry, and (7) Prophet Christopher Owolabi who is Presiding Cleric of Christ Apostolic Church.

Here is what <naija.com> says about the botched prophesies, citing The Punch newspaper which researched them and put them together:

" Just as we have new prophecies from various men of God for the new year 2017, there were lots of 2016 prophecies from major men of God that did not come to pass.

The Punch has however collated some of the prophecies by popular great men of God in Nigeria which did not come to pass in 2016. Enjoy below:

1. Buhari may be killed – Father Mbaka

Earlier in 2016, controversial Catholic priest and spiritual leader of Adoration Ministry, Reverend Fr. Ejike Mbaka, raised the alarm over what he says is a plot to assassinate President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016. He said: a plot to assassinate President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016. He said: “Many people are planning, as it is revealed, to kill Buhari. There are many plans on how to eliminate his life so that corruption, embezzlement will continue....By the end of this year, Buhari will expose the names of the people who looted money meant for our roads. What we are suffering now is the resultant effect of the last malignant administration that was intrinsically corrupt. What we are suffering now arose from past administration. But the Lord says there is hope. Many people are going to suffer. We should all get ready. But after the suffering, we will all smile.”

But throughout year 2016, there were no reports of plots to kill the President. Also, the president did not expose the names of looters. Instead, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo explained that the government did not name the looters because doing so would jeopardize ongoing investigations.

2. New STD will emerge — Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Part of the prophecies that the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, gave on January 1, 2016 was a new s*xually transmitted disease would surface in 2016. This did not happen. The only new virus that made headline last year was Zika virus - a mosquito-borne flavivirus. 

3. A woman will win US election — T.B Joshua

The general overseer of The Synagogue Church Of All Nations, T.B Joshua, got the attention of everyone in the world when he predicted that Democratic Party candidate, Hillary Clinton, will win the US presidential election but alas, Republican candidate, Donald Trump, won!

4. El-rufai will die if he doesn't revoke preaching law — Apostle Suleiman

Apostle Johnson Suleiman of the Omega Fire Ministry declared that Governor El-Rufai will die if he does not revoke the controversial preaching bill he came up with. During a service, Apostle Suleiman expressed distaste over the bill, noting that such amounted to suppressing the freedom of religion. The state government has not revoked the bill although the noise over it has died down. But el-Rufai is still living despite the non-revocation of the bill.

Also, Apostle Suleiman predicted that except Americans prayed, President Barack Obama would seek third term with a likelihood of the presidential elections not holding. Well, you know the end result as there was no such case of desire for tenure elongation by Obama. Obama even campaigned for his party’s (Democratic Party) candidate, Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump. At no time, before or during the electioneering was any issue about seeking third term in office raised.

5. The Queen of England may die — Prophet Joshua Iginla

In January 2016, the general overseer of Champions Royal Assembly, Prophet Joshua Iginla, an Abuja-based pastor, also had many predictions which cut beyond Nigeria. Some of the predictions came to pass while one of the most controversial of them was that the Queen of England may die.

He said: “The Queen of England should pray for her health. I see strong challenge and should pray to see the end of the year.” The Queen had a spectacular 90th birthday celebration in the year in review with no major health issue.

Also, Prophet Iginla also said there will be a major stampede at a religious gathering in Zambia which would claim lives. But in 2016, Zambia did not record any ‘major’ stampede at any religious gathering. Instead, it was in India that a major stampede at a religious gathering occurred.

6. Osinbajo may go missing after a meeting — Prophet Muyideen Kasali

The general overseer of the Hour of Mercy Prayer Ministry, Prophet Muyideen Kasali, unveiled some of his prophecies for the year 2016, on January 10. The blind prophet prophesied that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo would go missing after leaving a meeting.

Well, in the year in review, Osinbajo toured the country and attended several meetings on behalf of the president and nothing happened. Also, the blind cleric said the All Progressives Congress would split into four groups last year due to numerous crisis and 'too much success'. Though there was crisis within the party, the party did not split into four groups throughout the year.

7. Fayose will be removed from office, Peterside will be Rivers governor - Prophet Christopher Owolabi

The presiding cleric of Christ Apostolic Church, Ori-Oke Irapada, Omu-Aran, Kwara state, Prophet Christopher Owolabi, said Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state would be removed from office in 2016 unless he prayed fervently against it. He also said the APC would win the governorship election in Rivers state. But the opposites are what happened. Fayose was not removed from office, and Governor Nyesom Wike of the PDP is still in charge of Rivers state."

GUESS WHO IS READING US

I was in a Douala cyber recently when something struck me as being interesting. When I logged into Facebook, I realized that the previous user had not logged out before leaving. But more importantly, I noticed that the customer had been meticulously reading a group discussion on the current strike and the Anglophone problem in Cameroon.

It was the series of exchanges that were sparked by a certain Fomundam when he reacted to Hon Wirba’s parliamentary outburst by criticizing the Honourable Member of Parliament for being all wods and no action. Of course, while some of us felt that the criticisms were in order because they enabled the Honourable gentlemen not to succumb to the dreaded but very common personality cult; some Facebookers felt that the parliamentarian’s performance and motives were so spot-on that any criticism of him was an affront to the entire Anglophone people.

However, the issue was not just that the previous user of the cyber had been following the ongoing debate. It was rather the fact that all the posts on his Facebook page as I saw them, were in all in French. Fomumdam’s rebuttal was in French and all the reactions that followed it right to the most recent were equally in French. That meant that the person who had been reading them was a Francophone who had switched on the Facebook facility for translating the posts and responses from the English in which they had been initially written, into French, in order not to miss anything that was posted on the subject.

What I saw revealed to me that surely, the Francophone who had been at the computer before me could not be the only Francophone in the country interested in what was going on in the Anglophone part of the country. It reminded me of something a taxi driver said to me not so long ago. He said he had noticed that the ongoing strike action and the heightened awareness-creation it generated of the Anglophone problem had led to an upsurge in the number of Francophone Cameroonians seeking to learn English.

“That is no news because a good number of them already have children in purely Anglophone schools”, I remarked dismissively, citing the case of some Francophone colleagues of mine when I was a journalist  at CRTV in Yaounde, who had children in mission colleges in Bamenda, although they themselves could not speak English. The driver agreed with my explanation and added that he personally knew a Francophone minister who had sent his son to study at Sasse College in Buea. By the time such children graduate, their English is as good as that of their Anglophone peers and in addition to that, the Francophones students still have the added bonus of their French still being intact, so to speak, which means that they end up by being very bilingual.

I know that Gabon under its current president, Ali Ondimba Bongo, has also embraced the English language, from a different view point, by adopting it as its second official Language, in addition to French which it inherited from its colonial master, France. The president of Gabon has argued that English is a major international language which would open up unprecedented opportunities for Gabonese people at home and abroad. The Gabonese president formally opened the doors to the English language in 2012. Unfortunately, one would have thought that Cameroonian’s unemployed graduates would be queuing up in large number to seek English teaching jobs in Gabon. But the reality is that such is not the case.

Similarly, in Nigeria in 1996, President SaniAbacha announced that Frenchwould be the country’s second official language. That is not surprising firstly because Nigeria is almost entirely surrounded by Francophone countries. Furthermore, there are many Francophonecountries in the Economic Community (ECOWAS) to which the country belongs and with which it does business on a daily basis.

 Writing in the Nigerian The Guardiannewspaper of today (December 2016), Dr. Stella Omonigho who is a lecturer in the Department of Foreign Languages at the University of Benin in Nigeria said: “Officially, French has been the second official language in this country for the past 19 years. It has also been made ‘compulsory’ in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools across the country. French is also being taught at the tertiary level in the country.Nigerians should not over-flog the notion that there are no benefits in making French a second official language; events have overtaken that. What is most important for us to know at the moment is the importance of bilingualism or multilingualism; that is having good knowledge of at least two international languages. While other neighbouring countries have at least two international languages as their official languages, others have three to four. Nigeria must join her counterparts in the trend of bilingualism, which without doubt, has many benefits.”

The lecturer went on to say “we must understand that being bilingual has a positive effect on our intellectual growth and enhances our mental development. According to Nanduti (2009), ‘being bilingual opens the door to other cultures and helps an individual understand and appreciate people from other countries.’ I can assure you that our political leaders will interact better and exchange better knowledge with their Francophone counterparts without interpreters if they have knowledge of both French and English languages. Nanduti also affirms that being bilingual increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a real asset.Nigerians will widen their horizon in the labour world with an additional international language such as French, which is the third most spoken language in the world. A lot of internationally based companies, like Total, Exxon Mobil, Air France and KLM advertise for workers from time to time with qualifications including an ability to speak either French and English or English and German. The dearth of these competences poses a great challenge to Nigerian applicants who are limited by their knowledge of only the English language.”

Back here in our own country, Cameroon, we have not been very keen to seek jobs as French teachers in Nigeria, in the light of the golden opportunity which this new development offers us. Yet the few Anglophones from Cameroon who have found themselves there for other reasons, have found that occasionally, they are either being called to teach French here and there or to translate one document or another.

The current struggle for a recognition of rights by Cameroon’s Anglophone people should not exclude a look at the benefits  that lie in embracing French as wells as professions and activities that stem from it as a linguistic tool to greater achievement and self-fulfillment and not just a political cane used to lash relentless whips on hem. Far beyond the sphere of Cameroon, French is not just an international language but a major one.

AMAZING GRACE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MARK BARETA

AMAZING GRACE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MARK BARETA:                                                          MARK BARETA  Facebook informs me that today is your birthday. That means ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MARK BARETA

                                                         MARK BARETA 

Facebook informs me that today is your birthday. That means that having been born on the 15th of December, you are astrologically speaking, a Sagittarius. Happy birthday to you, Mark Bareta!

The Zodiac has twelve signs, like the twelve sons of Jacob (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin); like the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ (Simon Peter, Andrew, James , John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot);  like the twelve tribes of Israel ( the name God gave Jacob) which descended from the sons of Jacob; like the twelve months in the year, and like the twelve hours in a day.

The 12 signs of the Zodiac each fall under one of the four natural elements which are Earth (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn), Air (Aquarius, Gemini and Libra), Water (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces); and Fire (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius). 

The birth periods of the 12 signs are 1. Aries      (Mar 21 to Apr 19), 2. Taurus (Apr 20 to May 20), 3. Gemini (May 21 to Jun 20), 4. Cancer (Jun 21 to Jul 22), 5. Leo (Jul 23 to Aug 22), 6. Virgo (Aug 23 to Sep 22), 7. Libra (Sep 23 to Oct 22), 8. Scorpio (Oct 23 to Nov 21), 9. Sagittarius (Nov 22 to Dec 2), 10. Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19), 11. Aquarius (Jan 20 to Feb 18), 12. Pisces (Feb 19 to Mar 20).

 Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) are earthy, have their feet firmly on the ground, are realistic, calculating  and knowledgeable in terms of profitable and frugal management of resources including money. They are  conservative rather than risk-taking, grounded and very much aware of practical realities, reliable and responsible in the sense of being able to take care of their affairs and those of others. They are also logical and therefore a "safe pair of hands", so to speak.

Air signs (Aquarius, Gemini and Libra) are said to be the philosophers and thinkers because of their ability to analyze situations intellectually; they think about the world and humanity constantly and can easily be impervious to and forgetful of insults and attacks directed at them, they tend to be rather detached and undemonstrative when in love, and that makes them sometimes appear to be devoid of emotions. Sometimes, because of their unbridled anxiety to help others, they end up by overdoing it and getting  in trouble in the process.

Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces) are particularly emotionally sensitive and have a strong intuitive awareness of other people`s feelings and needs; they are very imaginative but at times can be impulsive rather than logical. They have a natural in-built sonar radar which they use quite efficiently to read other people`s moods and minds and adjust or readjust accordingly. They are usually submerged in their surroundings and generally have a tendency to gravitate towards the home, family and friends. They have a special sensitivity in relationships which helps them to determine accurately when to show warmth to others and when to hold it back. But of the three Water signs, the Cancer excels at knowing the value of money and other resources as well as  using them well.

Fire signs (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) , which is where you, Mark Bareta the Sagittarius falls, are positive, extrovert, self-expressive, and the most masculine of the 12 signs. The Fire signs are by nature not just “fighters” but “warriors” in their approach to life. They are blunt and frank to a fault in the sense that in their usual straightforward bluntness, they trample on other people`s toes and hurt other people`s feelings without realizing it and in fact, without even meaning to. People graced by fire as you are, are usually “fiery”, very enthusiastic and sometimes even “larger than life” in their approach. They like challenging situations and can take risks where everyone else shies away for fear of failure. Instead, failure spurs them to do more! In fact, the greater the risk, the more exciting it is to them! They are fearless of persons and situations.  However, just like a real fire, the Fire sign person can “burst out of control” if left unchecked. They are also creative, innovative, spontaneous and full of energy. They are self-assured, come across forcefully and appear bossy. But they are also a great inspiration to others, especially the fearful, doubtful and weak-minded!

And now, the Sagittarius that you are, specifically: This individual is curious and energetic, likes traveling and the element of change. Sagittarians are open-minded, philosophical, extrovert, idealistic, generous, and have a sense of humour. They like being outdoors and can find indoor confinements like some kind of “imprisonment”. They are optimistic and will do anything to achieve their goals. Just like  the other  two Fire signs (Leo and Aries), the Sagittarius feels the urge to be constantly in touch with the world and experience as much of it as possible. They have an enthusiasm that knows no bounds and they consequently have a great degree of curiosity. They value and treasure their freedom because it is the one  thing that guarantees  what they always want to do such as traveling  and challenging  the status quo and the establishment for being too rigid and out of date. Because of their high degree of honesty and sincerity, they tend to be impatient and tactless when it comes to saying or doing things. 

Sagittarius people  believe in speaking the truth and often they speak it rather “brutally”. As a result, some of the things they say come our too harshly and hurt people. But Sagittarians always say what they mean and mean what they say.  If there is a lesson they need to learn, it is that of being tolerant and being able to express themselves in a way that is more “socially” acceptable. That is why normally, they will say anything they want to say, no matter how undiplomatically it may come out and sound like. No one can  force them to do anything they don`t want to do. Unfortunately, They tend to take things for granted and take unnecessary risks. Often, this “careless” approach to life exposes them to a lot of disapproval and criticism. They don`t like clingy people or ideas, they don`t like to be constrained by anything or anybody, they don`t like off-the-wall theories and they don`t have enough patience to always wait for details.

Whatever is the case, Sagittarians remain true to themselves. And that is good because such people either do not pretend or are unable to pretend, even if they wanted to.

Mark Bareta, happy birthday to you!

IS MARK BARETA BURNING HIS WOOD AT BOTH ENDS?

Mark Bareta, you are rendering the public a valuable and commendable service by keeping everyone informed of what is going on in our country. That is very good. But I fear that in your effort to do this, you may also be causing some harm without knowing it. 

One of the basic tenets of the journalism profession as I know it is the twin concept of objectivity and accepting that to every story, there are always two sides. But when while reporting facts you quickly label people as "traitors", I feel that you have hurriedly judged them without giving them a fair chance to state their own side of the story. Also, in some of your writings, you are inciting your readers to rise up in arms against the indicted persons. This was the case recently with our brother, Mr. Awah Cletus and today, the top notch Anglophone lawyers who met with the Minister of Justice. Yet, even when someone is caught red-handed committing murder, he still has the right to a fair trial in court and the possibility of defending himself.

Take note that while today we talk a lot about Common Law, it is my belief that Common Law provides that a person is “innocent until proven guilty”, whereas the other Law holds that a person is “guilty until he proves his innocence”. So it seems to me that while you seem to be upholding Common Law by word, you also appear at the same time to be disparaging and trampling on it in deed.

AMAZING GRACE: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CAMEROON GOVERNMENT

AMAZING GRACE: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CAMEROON GOVERNMENT: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CAMEROON GOVERNMENT   Today, Tuesday 22 nd November 2016 is the second day of the nationwide sit-down pro...

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CAMEROON GOVERNMENT

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CAMEROON GOVERNMENT

 Today, Tuesday 22^nd November 2016 is the second day of the nationwide sit-down protest that was called by teachers` unions in the wake of street demonstrations by Cameroon Anglophone lawyers with a view to getting the Cameroon government to address injustices to which Cameroon Anglophones have been subjected for decades. In the case of the lawyers, they are making a case for the recognition of the common law which is an Anglophone legacy and in that of the teachers` union, it has been a determination to ensure that the Anglophone system of education in the country is neither diluted nor completely swallowed up.

By all indications, the sit down strike is effective because from personal observation, a large number of pupils/students and teachers have hearkened to the call and stayed at home. Even in cases where students and teachers have met on-campus and teachers have insisted on teaching, attendance has still been timid. In some cases, the few children who have turned up have simply been asked to return home. Catholic schools in Buea like the one in Mile 16 have in a downright move put locks on their doors with not a single pupil or teacher in sight.

This state of affairs has surely put the government in an awkward situation because it does not now seem to know what steps to take in order to defuse the situation. If one adds to that, the fact that the Anglophone Lawyers` dispute remains largely unresolved and the fact that there is a veritable general unease reigning in the country, then the magnitude of the problem ought to be taken very seriously indeed.

One of the first moves the government must make is to engage in dialogue during which the grieving peoples are allowed to “tell it all” without fear of intimidation or retribution. The government must also not deploy the armed forces to resort to brutal repression on protesting Cameroonians who are making known their disenchantment without causing damage to property or even loss of life. Such a line of action would only contribute to escalating the situation. The government must equally refrain from selecting just a few gullible participants and “buying” them with money in order to get them to relent or change their language, or even toe the line.

But what is really the problem? It is one of a group of people feeling cheated and disenfranchised. One glaring injustice that the people decry is the dismantling of the federation that guaranteed equality between the State of East Cameroon and the State of West Cameroon as two equal States, superimposed by a Federal Republic in which if the President came from one State, the Vice President would come from the other State. In the course of that dispensation, West Cameroon successfully ran its affairs like a tightly-managed business venture. There was duty consciousness and accountability. Bribery and corruption were not only perceived as crimes, but were largely viewed as “sins” and therefore repressed with impunity. 

As things turned out, not only was the tenable state structure dismantled, but the “identity” of the erstwhile English speaking Cameroonians was assumed in the larger configuration known as the “United Republic”. The formerly single State of West Cameroon was broken into two provinces which together with the seven already existing regions of the former Francophone State of East Cameroon, made up the new Republic that now consisted of ten provinces. An immediate consequence was that the English speakers who had constituted one linguistic block now became two distinct entities that were (or were made to be) as much “rivals” to each other as they were to the seven Francophone regions. Later, the post of Vice President of the Republic which used to be held by an Anglophone was abolished and an Anglophone, in the person of Solomon Tandeng Muna, was made President of the National Assembly. But then, being president of the National Assembly was not the same thing as being national Vice President. Furthermore, although according to the constitution, the President of the National Assembly was next in command after the President of the Republic, the then President of the Republic Ahmadou Ahidjo, later changed all of that. He had the constitution amended so that the Prime Minister (at the time, Paul Biya from the Francophone zone) instead of the President of the National Assembly, now became the next important personality of the state after the President of the Republic and the one to succeed him in case there was a vacancy. 

The sitting president of Cameroon, could have stemmed the current rising tide of discontent if he had wanted to, before things escalated to the point where they are today. One step he could have taken would have been  to address the nation alternately in the French and English languages which are Cameroon`s official languages. Instead, he has – in his record 34 years in power – only spoken to the nation in French, the official language predominant in his own zone, in total disregard of English, the other official language. Granted that when he has visited either the predominantly English speaking regions, or when in an English speaking country abroad, he has addressed Cameroonians in English. But why not also do it within the country?

The national newspaper, Cameroon Tribune, which is said to be bilingual, is on a daily basis dominated by the French language. The problem posed here is not only a language one but also a commercial and business one because the paper is the main carrier of offers of tender for public contracts advertized by government ministries and services. Usually, it is very rarely that any advertizing authority bothers to translate tenders so that they are published in both languages. They are often rushed to the newspaper for publication only in French. That means that contractors and business people of English expression are by implication, excluded from bidding for the advertized contracts.

The government has been reluctant, if not actually unwilling to balance the equation. Although the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister have in the past instructed government officials to ensure that official documents they send out must be in the two official languages, these instructions have been ignored; yet no sanctions have been taken against the disobedient officials. Instead, the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister have carried on as if there was nothing wrong.

Suggestions and recommendations have been made to the president that he should restructure the manner in which translation of official documents is carried out in the country, all in vain. Right now, there are translation departments at the Presidency of the Republic, the National Assembly, the Prime Minister`s Office, ministerial departments, other public offices such as parastatals, and the regional governors` offices. But that is about all, to the exclusion of other needy departments.

Similarly, suggestions that the President of the Republic should set up a ministerial department to be specifically in charge of translation and the promotion of national languages have not been heeded. If this had happened, then all public services including those at the regional, divisional and even sub divisional levels would have regular translation services too. In addition, such a provision would ensure that there is an ombudsman to keep an eye on the implementation of the translation policy and official bilingualism which Cameroon is the only country in Africa to enjoy.

Equity between the two peoples has not been taken into account when it comes to appointments to public offices. The prescribed quota that used to be half or fifty per cent for Anglophone Cameroon ceased to be implemented since the demise of the Federal Republic in 1982. This has led to the incredible situation where at one point, the total number of government members and other top ranking officials from the two Anglophone regions, when put together, was not up to that of ministers from a single Division such as Benoue (Former President Ahmadou Ahidjo`s Division of origin in today`s North Region) and Dja and Lobo, which is President Paul Biya`s Division of origin. People notice these things and grumble about them on a daily basis.

Another source of pain and humiliation for the country`s Anglophone people is the treatment being given to Religious Studies as a subject on the secondary school curriculum. In the Anglophone sub system of education, the subject is taught and examined at both the Ordinary and Advanced Levels of the General Certificate of Education (GCE). The Cameroon GCE Board which is actually a structure set up by government to run the GCE is the one that examines candidates in the subjects and awards the certificates. But shockingly, the government does not recognize a pass in the subject either for employment or further education, when it mentions entry qualifications. The usual hurtful phrase is “a pass in at least two GCE Advanced Level subjects excluding Religious Studies”. No one has ever stepped forward and explained convincingly the reason for this discrimination. Yet it is all the more telling, when one considers that religious studies is a subject on the curriculum only in the Anglophone sub system. So, who can blame Anglophones for complaining of being specifically targeted?

Additionally, it is a paradox that at a time when the government professes to be fighting corruption in the country with a view to routing it out completely, the one subject – namely religion – whose teaching lends itself more to moral rectitude and nearness to God than any other curricular subject is instead the one that is downtrodden and derided. Yet, in the country`s courts, the bible is still used by people who are called up into the box, as proof that they will tell “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. For how long shall we continue to deceive ourselves?

It is to be noted that one factor that brought Anglophone lawyers out into the streets was that their offer of the olive branch which the government could have accepted a long time ago and sued for peace and dialogue was ignored. So it all left the lawyers in a situation in which it looked to them as if they were talking to themselves instead of to the intended interlocutor. It was faced with this brick wall that the lawyers  took to the streets. Yet, as children of the state, they had a right to be listened to and responded to. That was the least that could have been done. Even when it was done, it was done more out of pressure and consequently halfheartedly. The government really needs to rethink its strategies to conflict resolution.

Whatever is the case, there is a saying that there is time for everything, and this may be that time when these wrongs can at last be righted. To solve the problem, it is necessary that the government should invite for dialogue not just those who are striking but also other national stake holders who can make a useful and meaningful contribution to the talks. That is the only way in which this ugly stage in the life of the nation can be turned into a thing of the past. A stitch in time saves nine.