Corruption:

Special criminal court grills Messengue Avom for over 5hrs

By Sylvanus Ezieh in Yaounde

 

Bernard Messengue Avom

President Biya may actually have gone offensive in the fight against corruption if recent developments towards that direction are anything to go by. The former minister of public works, Bernard Messengue Avom was yesterday Thursday grilled by the special police corps of the Special Criminal Court, SCC for over five hours. He arrived the police station at exactly 11 a.m. and only got out at 4:30 p.m.

The Guardian Post does not yet have the exact facts under which he was being grilled, but reputable sources say the former public works minister’s grilling at SCC may be connected to a racket worth 15.4 BFCFA uncovered by the National Anti Corruption Commission, NACC in its 2010 corruption report but published in November 2011.

Going by the NACC report, the ministry of public works had attempted to induce government into paying triple for the Ayos-Bonis road construction project that had already been completed and paid for.

The road project was financed with funds from the Kuwait Economic Development Fund, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa and the public investment budget of Cameroon. The report stated that the ministry of public works then headed by Bernard Messengue Avom with the approval of the services of the prime ministry, were caught hands-in-the-bag in a suspicious operation.

 Later on November 25, 2011, then vice prime minister, minister of justice, Amadou Ali declared at the national assembly that President Biya had ordered investigations in the alleged racket in the construction of the Ayos-Bonis road that links the Douala, N’djamena in Chad and Douala- Bangui in the Central African corridors.

In reaction to the report, Messengue Avom in a press release said the Anti-corruption Commission did not inform the public works ministry of its report nor invite officials of the ministry to explain the facts observed by the mission.
“This is in violation of the principle of full hearing in force in such circumstances. Yet, this principle of full hearing is in common practice and its non-observance leads to the nullity of any proceedings.” Avom had stated in reaction to the CONAC report. He then requested that an international consulting firm be hired through international tender to carry out a technical and financial auditing on the alleged embezzlement scandal.

SDF admits failure to effect change in parliament

By Mbom Sixtus in Yaounde

SDF Parliamentary Group officials

The Social Democratic Front, SDF has admitted its failure to effect change in Cameroon through the national assembly.

The parliamentary group of the SDF, in a press statement issued on November 19, has however blamed the party’s failure to directly bring meaningful reforms through the national assembly, on the fact that CPDM MPs prevent their proposals (private member bills and draft resolutions) from getting past the chairmen’s conference to the competent committees and then to plenary sessions of the assembly for examination and possible adoption.

The national vice chair of the SDF, Hon. Joshua Nambangi Osih who read the press statement in the presence of the group leader, Hon. Joseph Banadzem Lukong, SDF senators and members of parliament, gave to understanding that they are unable to live up to the expectations of the citizens they represent, because of the overwhelming majority of the CPDM which consequently has an ascendancy over the opposition at all decision making levels at the national assembly.

SDF’s steady decline

A trip down memory lane indicates that the SDF has been loosing popularity and consequently loosing strength to effect change in the national assembly ever since it took part in the 1997 parliamentary elections. During the 1997 legislative elections, the SDF won 43 seats though the party cried out that the elections were rigged by the CPDM.

During the 2002 and 2007 parliamentary elections, the SDF managed to have only a parliamentary group which could not effect any change in parliament.

In the most recent elections in 2013, the SDF still failed to increase its number of seats in parliament to a significant figure that could influence decision making by the country’s legislature. The party won 18 parliamentary seats; a snail-paced movement from 16 seats in the previous legislature.

The bi-cameral system of parliament was introduced in 2013 and as the party puts it, “given the fact that senators were voted by municipal councillors who won the 2007 flawed elections”, the CPDM emerged with an absolute majority. The SDF was beaten in its fief, the North West region in a winner takes all regional elections.

Some analysts related the party’s victory in the Adamawa and West regions at last year’s senatorial elections to Biya’s kindheartedness. Yet, others linked it to the president’s cleverness; those who shared this school of thought said the president wanted the senate to have a semblance of democracy in the eyes of the international community.

Nevertheless, the Social Democratic Front of John Fru Ndi, till today, though toothless at the national assembly, has managed to maintain its grip on the title of the ‘leading opposition party’.

Challenges SDF can’t surmount

Among the private member bills which had been submitted over the years at the chairmen’s conference by Hon. Osih and Hon. Mbah Ndam, but were thrown out by the CPDM, is the bill on the modification of the labour code. Hon. Osih explained that he and the SDF parliamentary group proposed that the minimum guaranteed wage should be transformed into a minimum inter-professional wage that will be intertwined with economic growth. This, he said, will be revised by employers annually depending on the annual growth rate of the country.

Going by calculations and extrapolations made by the SDF vice chair, it was proposed that the amendment of the August 1992 labour code, should set the minimum salaries at 60.000FCFA in 2015, 80,000FCFA in 2016, 100,000FCFA in 2017, 120,000FCFA in 2018, 140,000FCFA in 2019 and 160,000FCFA in 2020.

Osih and Ndam have also proposed at the on-going November session of parliament, that the 1968 law on nationality should be amended. He told the press that this would be beneficial to over 4million Cameroonians living abroad.

It is stated in the bill that the 1968 law on nationality which prohibited double nationality for Cameroonians, was voted as a tool to fight against members of the opposition, most of who were living abroad. The SDF argues that after Cameroon embraced democracy, the law became obsolete. It is also stated in the bill that the implementation of the law against double nationality is discriminatory as it’s not applied on players in the national team.

The standpoint of the SDF on the issue is that the 1968 law should be amended so that children born into families with two nationalities one of which is Cameroonian would not be obliged to choose one nationality. Besides the case of children, the party argues that most Cameroonians who have two nationalities did not obtain second citizenship because they rejected their country but because of necessity. The current law, according the SDF prevents Cameroonians in the Diaspora from effectively participating in the development of Cameroon even if they wish to.

The SDF has also deposited a bill for the modification of the 2004 law on decentralization, requesting that the post of government delegate in urban council should be scrapped. In the bill which was proposed by Osih and the SDF parliamentary group, it is justified that the government delegates are appointed by the head of state and pay allegiance to their appointer and not the people living under their jurisdiction.

The party holds that the appointed government delegates in 14 major cities in Cameroon control 60% of funds disbursed to be managed by decentralized municipality, whereas the backbone of decentralization is the sub-divisional councils. Mayors are voted to head councils and their actions are guided by the principle of accountability to the electorate. Decision making is inclusive, democracy and governance is at its best at the level of the sub-divisional municipalities. The SDF stresses in the bill that the extinction of the post of delegate and the transformation of the appellation, ‘urban council’ to city council’ in the 14 major cities would boost decentralization and make it more than just a concept but a reality in Cameroon.

Osih and his group mates have also submitted a bill on the modification of the electoral code which the party has proposed and a draft resolution for the establishment of a parliamentary commission of inquiry related to the acquisition of XIAN Mag 60 aircrafts which the government bought for the CAMAIR-co corporation.

Just like the bills mentioned earlier, the SDF says the CPDM parliamentary group has blocked the bill at the level of the chairmen’s conference without even finding out what it contains, an attitude which, Banadzem says is contrary to the laws and standing orders of the national assembly.

They want an inquiry into a plane purchase deal where the transport minister signed an agreement for the purchase of Chinese planes and the company was later received an inexplicable 20billionFCFA ‘overpayment’ for the aircrafts which experts say are as good as flying coffins. The planes have been banned in several countries, according to the SDF vice chair.

Besides CPDM’s alleged efforts in kill the zeal of SDF members of parliament to effect change through parliament, they are also accused by socialist party of disrespecting the laws of the land.

The SDF has equally faulted government for constantly disrespecting sections 21, 35 and 39 of the 2007 law on the fiscal regime of the state. This involves the examination of settlement bills and depositing the finance law.

The SDF parliamentary group leader, Banadzem says parliamentarians usually are not given the required time as stated by the law, to examine the bill and finance law. He said the 37% execution rate of the public investment budget this year; down from 50% last year is related to the poor examination of the budget.

He also refused to comment on statements made by the Senate President, Marcel Niat Njifenji who, while opening the November session of parliament at the Senate, said they will not defend their budget before the finance commission of the lower house of assembly. Though the declarations were received with criticisms from observers and political analyst in the country who hold that the senate is suppose to defend its budget as long as the president is yet to promulgate its standing orders, Banadzem simply said that, the national assembly is an institution which has well defined channels of communication. He said that he will only comment when the senate officially informs them about the decision.

UB lecturers announce week-long strike

From Che Bruno Azenyui in Buea

The University of Buea, UB, chapter of the National Syndicate of Teachers of Higher Education, SYNES, has hinted that they would as from Monday November 24, embark on a week-long strike action in response to complaints from some members of the syndicate who have not been paid their research and modernization grants.

The lecturers took the decision to stage another week long protest if all lecturers do not receive the grants by Monday November 24, during a close to three hour behind closed doors meeting last Wednesday on the campus of the university.

During the meeting, the varsity dons took a firm commitment to vacate lecture halls again if their grievances are not addressed. “Until all the lecturers confirm having received the grants into their accounts, we cannot say that the grants have been paid. As long as one lecturer continues to complain about the non payment of the grant, it means we have not received the money. There is a high degree of lies telling in Cameroon,” one of the lecturers complained.

They also expressed frustration at the despicable treatment often meted on lecturers of higher institutions in the country. Recently, the higher education minister reportedly signed a decree authorizing the payment of research and modernization grants to lecturers. Most of the lecturers however complained they have not received the said grants in their accounts.

Apart from the research and modernization grants to lecturers, other issues the varsity dons plan to raise through the industrial action include the violation of the text that requires the election of administrators into Cameroon’s Anglo-Saxon universities.

At the meeting that had in attendance top members of the UB chapter of SYNES, it was agreed that other chapters of the syndicate shall be informed of the planned protest so as to ensure that the protest receives a national scope.

Though the lecturers agreed to shun all publicity of the industrial action, The Guardian Post gathered that lecturers who fail to adhere to the call shall have their names submitted to the disciplinary committee of the syndicate and necessary action taken against them.  “We will publish the names of lecturers who fail to comply and lecturers who don’t participate in the syndicate’s activities shall be treated according to the rules of the syndicate,” one of the lecturers warned.

The lecturers had reportedly dispatched a delegation to hold talks with the higher education minister regarding the payment of the grants and other problems affecting the lecturers particularly in the University of Buea. A meeting with the minister of finance is equally reported to have yielded no fruits as no lasting solution was arrived at during the meeting.

“We no longer have any business with the finance minister. Our business now is with the higher education minister who is the chancellor of the university. We want him to understand the plight of lecturers of the eight state universities in Cameroon. We want it to be known that Buea can always take the bold step,” the lecturers disclosed during the meeting.

It is been barely a week since lecturers of the university suspended a week long warning strike sparked off by the non payment of the research and modernization grants.

When this reporter visited the campus of the university last Tuesday, students had barely begun their continuous assessment tests; most of whom complained of having had less than three weeks of effective lectures prior to the test.

According to the official calendar of the University of Buea, first semester examinations in the university are expected to begin in the month of February 2015. All lecturers accosted turned down our invitation to make a press statement on the issue

Politicians blamed for manipulating statistical data

From Che Bruno Azenyui in Buea

Data specialists of the South West regional bureau of the National Institute of Statistics have expressed disappointment with the manipulation of statistical data by political actors in the country. They were speaking on Tuesday November 18, at the MINEPAT hall in Buea, during an event to mark this year’s national day of statistics.

According to officials of the agency, despite the availability of statistical data on all domains of the economic and political life, most towns in Cameroon still lack basic necessities due to the deliberate manipulation and the misuse of statistical data by policy makers in the country.

 In a presentation on the challenges and functions of the institute, the South West regional chief of agency of the National Institute of Statistics, Eto Guy revealed that statistical data continue to play a vital role in the development of the nation. He frowned at the fact that most decision making bodies in the nation hardly take into consideration statistical findings in policy making. Statistics, he said play a vital role in determining priority areas for national investment.

“The agency is doing a good job as far as producing statistics is concerned but those taking the decisions rarely use the statistics. We have statistics concerning all domains like health, education, public works, sanitation and even water. We believe that if national statistics can be taken into consideration before projects are prioritized, then they will be no need for some regions to complain of marginalization,” Eta insisted.

In a reaction, the fourth deputy mayor of the Buea council, Comfort Ojongkpot decried the lack of relevant information at the institutions website adding that proper research and development can be carried out when statistical data is readily available for the researchers.

Other participants expressed disappointment with the fact that data on pertinent aspects of national life in Cameroon are often gotten from foreign agencies like the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, amongst others, despite the availability of research institutes in Cameroon.

Representing the South West governor at the occasion was the head of division in charge of local development, Fabian Nkengfack who said, statistics, when properly checked can be effective in the monitoring of projects for better performance and the improvement of the living conditions of the population. He enjoined the workers of the institute to ensure the easy availability of statistical data to all without discrimination.

NEW ANALYSIS

Pentecostal churches: God’s worshipers or money launderers?
 

By Peterkins Manyong, guest writer and publisher of The Independent Observer

“The Living Church”. That is what a Pentecostal Christian styles his or her church. Their style of worship is characterized by fiery sermons, songs, dancing, theatrics worship, deliverance and healing by which they claim demons are cast and sent out to the abyss .The more the miracles performed or said to have been performed ,the more holy ghost-inspired a Pentecostal church purports to be .

Pentecostal churches are also known as “prosperity” churches because they preach against poverty and profess that true children of God cannot be poor because their father in Heaven has everything. Proprietors of these churches cite Abraham, Job and especially King Solomon who asked God for wisdom and the Almighty God added riches to it.

Given that the mood of preaching is very much the same with every Pentecostal claiming to have let Christ take full control of his or her own life, the logical thing to have done would have been that all these churches conglomerate into one large denomination. But what do we see? Worship houses dotted here and there some with not up to ten worshippers on a Sunday morning. The alms collected for a month can’t pay the rents of the building or apartment housing it; talk less of feeding the pastor and his family. What then should be the motive for setting up such a church?

What is not visible to the common eye is that the proprietors whom are usually very rich people rather spoil their Christians with financial gifts and give scholarships to the children of their pastors or even Christians. This means that the proprietors of these churches rather spend on their Christians.

This leads us to the crux of the matter. The proprietors of these churches are actually owners of wealth they can’t justify their origins. Sources say most of these Pentecostal churches have behind their creation senior civil servants who pilfer government funds thanks to their lucrative positions. Since it is risky to stash such funds in a room or put them in bank accounts, some of the hidden hands behind the setting up of prosperity churches find it safer to open an account in the name of the church. Such funds are not taxed and their owners if questioned would claim that they came through donations by devoted Christians of the church.

In the case of top government functionaries who own churches, there are people whose wealth is not commensurate to the salaries they earn. Some acquire their fortune through payments to fictitious companies they own from the budget they control or through the 30% syndrome. Stories are told of how those who controlled government budget lent out government money on exorbitant interest rates to companies and individuals on the eve of devaluation.

Some of them took huge sums abroad and brought them back after the devaluation with the amounts doubled. Knowing that government can access these accounts, the only account where the money can be safe is the account of the church. Some of these white collar bandits who pass for church overseers are already on retirement, but they continue to invest but claiming that the institutions that they put in place, amongst them banks, schools and churches are church property. This is cleverly done to escape the praying eyes of CONAC and other anti-corruption outfits.

Exceptions to the rule

It should be said in all fairness that not all proprietors of churches are money launderers. Although many possess funds they can’t account for, these sums are genuinely from church members. To persuade their faithful to cough out the money, they organize the healing and deliverance services mentioned above where they claim to have delivered their victims or their children from demonic attacks.

Some of these churches hold their ‘services’ during impressively-attended funerals or market days and later send well crafted pictures to funders claiming that the population in the pictures are their Christians with no place of worship. There is the case of a church which took pictures of student-teachers and parents outside a Bamenda-based college chapel and sent claiming that they were stranded congregational members.

The vehemence with which many Pentecostal churches resisted closure by MINAT/D speaks volumes about them. Many of them are actually family holdings with the overseer being the father and the assistant his wife as in the case of Pastor Chris and his divorced wife, Anita. Some of them, after closure decided to merge with or use the license of other Pentecostal churches to operate. Some cursed the DOs who closed the churches and prophesized damnation for the security forces that executed the orders. Francis Poss, DO of Ndop told this analyst that some Pentecostal pastors whose churches he closed said he was a confirmed candidate for hell and he replied that they were those false prophets Christ said would emerge during end times prophesying and acting in his name.

If the Biya regime is really out to fight corruption, CONAC should not spare Pentecostal churches whose, overseers practice money laundering under the guise of preaching the gospel.