Yaounde: Heavy Fines Loom Over Absconders Of May 20 Celebration

Heavy fines and other sanctions loom over the aborigines of the West Region resident in Kumba, who joined the lot in absconding the May 20^th festivities in the metropolis.

This reporter further gathered that such persons who reside within the Kumba II Sub Division were already informed before the National Day that failure to turn out for the event could earn them a fine of two crates of beer.

There is panic among those who erroneously or wilfully stayed away from this year’s celebrations, as local administrators have vowed to enforce the sanctions.

Sanctions in this light are said to have been previewed through administrative circles in the Sub Division to push for massive participation on the National Day.

Campaigns propagating sanctions on defaulters were meant to circumvent underground moves from unidentified individuals who crusaded for civil disobedience.

The threat of a fine it is reported played the trick added to multiple Government assurances of a hitch-free May 20^th celebration that came to pass.

Thus, the fairly huge turnout at the Kumba City Grandstand during the festivities was largely credited to Cameroonians who hail from the West Region.

Almost all family groups in Kumba from this part of the country took part in the colourful march pass.

 Their unending numbers sent some celebrating at the ceremonial ground, while those who had hoped for a general boycott groaned and murmured in vain.

For one thing, Kumba II Sub Division remains the most densely populated of the three Council areas that make up the metropolis.

Bamilekes have a force to reckon with here in terms of numbers, businesses, infrastructure and farming.

Their turn out at this year’s celebration which looked unprecedented came at the time the powers that be needed it most to enhance the drive for national unity in diversity.

Letters with administrative seals are said to have reached the different meeting groups days before the event, reason why they mobilised in their hundreds to storm the Kumba City Grandstand

Their huge presence is not unconnected with actions which the Divisional Officer for Kumba II, Piere Zedzode, initiated to get the population and schools of the Sub Division celebrate 45 years of national unity.