Politics

Democracy in Africa has often been criticized as being a facade put up to receive funding from foreign governments. But for experts, democracy exists even at grassroots levels.

Autocratic or authoritarian regimes, dictatorships, have been a dominant form of governance in Africa for many years. In the second decade of the 21st century, one concern is that they may hinder the attainment of one of the UN's crucial Sustainable Development Goals.

The growth in the number of migrants from Africa poses a challenge outside the continent. Africa must help resolve this challenge by implementing universally acceptable standards of democratic governance. But Robtel Neajai Pailey, a senior researcher from Liberian at Oxford University, rejects the notion of  universal standards of democracy. "There are different strands of democracy so it depends on how you define democracy and who is defining it,” she told DW.

Democracy and Africa

There have been concerns that democratization is not happening fast enough in the continent. But Julia Leininger, an expert on African Politics from the German Development Institute (Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik)  says there is plenty of evidence of democracy in action at the grassroots level in Africa. "You find a lot of practices in the sense that people discuss things a lot in order to get to conclusions and joint decisions. There is a lot of what we call vertical accountabilities," she said. But she agrees there is still a long way to go

Poor governance and leadership is big to development in Africa. The 16th of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals seeks to address problem by striving for "access to justice for all and moves to build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels of government."

One hurdle to "effective,a ccountable and inclusive institutions" is the tendency of some African presidents to try and  extend their number of terms in office by sidestepping or tempering with their country's constitution. Congo-Brazzaville, DR Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and Burkina Faso have all experienced this .

Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, the executive director at Ghana Center for Democratic Development, told DW that Africans do not support extended presidential terms. These are the findings of Afro-barometer, a pan-African, research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions.

"Africans do prefer democracy to any other form of government. We asked them about elections. Sometimes elections bring too many problems so may be we shouldn't have elections, They said no. As many as 8 in 10 Africans consistently say they want to have multiparty elections,” he said.

The presence of democratic spaces in some African countries has helped civil rights groups to push for institutional change and policy development. But Pailey said this is only half the battle. "I think there are really fantastic policies on the continent of Africa. The problem is their implementation,” she said.

The problem is not exclusive to her home country of Liberia, it is also rife on other parts of the continent. "Unless there is a political will and a demand for that political will to be met in terms of the implementation of really fantastic laws and regulation then we will still be talking about SDG 16 maybe a 100 years from now,” she said.

Resolutions

So what can be done to achieve these goals by their set date of 2030 ? The international reaction to autocratic governments is normally to impose sanctions, one example being Zimbabwe. But such sanctions do not do enough to ensure that governments become more accountable to their citizens. 

Pailey says  a lot of development cooperation institutions fund government bodies that they know are not accountable to their citizens. "That is actually really damning for European development cooperation institutions,” she said.

Supporters of autocratic regimes point to the case of  President Kagame's Rwanda, which they say has made big strides in economic, social and environmental development. Is autocratic government not a viable model after all? 

Gyimah-Boadi vehemently challenges this assertion. One should not forget, he said, that  autocratic rule was the norm in Africa from 1960 until at least 1990. "Now why is it that 30 years of authoritarian and autocratic rule in Africa did not produce the kind of developments we are seeing in Rwanda?" The experience of one country cannot be allowed to override that gleaned by 52 countries, he said   

Gyimah-Boadi believes the European Union is losing the knack of dealing with autocratic regimes. This is because they preside over valubale commodities which are highly sought after by other non-European trading partners such China, India or Brazil.

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Wanjiku Mwaura

03.Oct.2016

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Up to 80,000 children will die in northeastern Nigeria without much-needed humanitarian assistance, a senior UN official said. Boko Haram's insurgency has left tens of thousands dead, and millions more displaced.

UN Assistant Secretary-General Toby Lanzer on Friday said that without further assistance, northern Nigeria and surrounding areas impacted by the Boko Haram militant group's onslaught will become the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

"If we don't engage in a much more comprehensive manner, including scaling up our emergency relief programs, what awaits us down the line is the biggest crisis facing any of us, anywhere," said Lanzer, who heads the UN's humanitarian division in the Sahel region.

The militant group's seven-year insurgency, aimed at establishing a so-called caliphate, has left at least 20,000 people dead and displaced more than 2.5 million people in the region.  

The death toll is likely higher due to consequences of the conflict, including fatalities caused by severe malnutrition and lack of access to medical supplies.

'Anywhere except that of Syria'

The UN has requested $739 million (657 million euros) to provide much-needed humanitarian assistance. Lanzer appealed for the funds to protect at-risk populations.

However, UN authorities have received about $197 million, well below commitments from governments and international organizations.

"We're now talking about 568,000 across the Lake Chad basis who are severely malnourished, 400,000 of them are in the northeast of Nigeria," Lanzer said.

"We know that over the next 12 months, 75,000 - maybe as many as 80,000 - children will die in the northeast of Nigeria, unless we can reach them with specialized therapeutic food," the UN official added.

Nigeria's armed forces have pushed the militant group out of several of its strongholds, allowing humanitarian workers to access some affected areas, which Lanzer described as a catastrophe unrivalled "anywhere except that of Syria."

More than 6 million people are described as "severely food insecure" across the Lake Chad region, according to UN figures.

DW

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Rita Akana

02.Oct.2016

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Prince Nfor Hanson

02.Oct.2016

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Paul Biya, the 83 years old man who has spent 34 of these years at the helm of Cameroon, signed a decree  Thursday,29 September 2016. This presidential decree is coming in from a foreign country other than his presidential palace, barely a few days after the end of the 71st general assembly of the U.N.O. which was his official pretext to leave the country.

 It should be noted that he is more at ease out of Cameroon where he prefers to ruminate in total tranquillity after hastily masticating our local first grade hay to his fill. As opposed to other Heads of State who left New York for their various countries immediately after the summit, our 'king' is still out of the country.

 In his charismatic governance from "Geneva-Switzerland" where he has made it his domicile of choice, the Head of State has signed a decree appointing  David Koulbout Aman as senior divisional officer for the Dja and Lobo Division, South Region, where the president hails from.  

The new S.D.O. replaces Bernard Marie Mba who has been relieved from his duties . The official reasons for the sack were not released. Nevertheless , information gathered from judicial sources by KOACI reveal that the sacked S.D.O. is involved in a financial scandal linked to compensation of locals around the Mekin Dam.

 The scandal has taken a strange twist and is now a matter of high import to the State. It involves top state officials whose names have been littered everywhere in local media organs. Sources say the S.D.O. could be charged for his involvement in this matter in the days ahead.

 It should also be noted that there is tension between the infamous S.D.O. and the Mayor of Sangmelima who happens to be a nephew to our Head of State. Observant people have also remarked that this is not the first time the president of the Republic is signing a decree of such magnitude from abroad.                             

 In his book titled, " The Secretary General of the Republic of Cameroon; Between Myths, Texts and Realities" , Jean Marie Atangana Mebara, a former Secretary General at the presidency of the Republic of Cameroon who is today behind bars  at the Kondengui central prison for embezzling public funds, writes that the President of the Republic is often compelled to fly out alongside senior state officials and very close collaborators when he so wishes to get their points of view on certain hot state issues.

The question whose answer is blowing in the wind is that; must very important issues only be discussed out of Cameroon ?

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Swato Alfredo

30.Sep.2016

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The Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC, Cameroons second largest employer after the Government with over 22 000 employees including temporary workers, is facing serious challenges of growth of number of employees and availability of adequate infrastructure to accommodate them.

The growth in number of employees has pushed the CDC to construct new camps to accommodate its personnel. “We are creating new and modern camps for our workers. For those who cannot live in our camps, we give them 25% of their monthly salary to rent wherever they wish, we also have 100% health coverage for all our workers without discrimination, in fact we are few in Cameroon to do that”, IKOME MANYAYE Paul, the Public Relations and Communication Officer of CDC told a working group of Journalists under the United Nations Human Rights Commission for Central Africa. 

Despite these achievements made by the Parastatal Company to better the living and working conditions of its workers, much still needs to be done. After visiting the CDC new Camp in Njonge around Idenau in Fako Division and the Oil Mill in Idenau, a number of issues concerning human rights were raised ranging from Hygiene and Sanitation, Environmental pollution, Accommodation, Drainage system, Recreational facilities among others were raised. The Cameroon development Corporation has not been quick to readjust its housing policy. Workers still live in old houses constructed since 1947 when the corporation was created. And some of these houses have become too small to accommodate fast growing families. A family of five will find it difficult to live comfortably in one bed room and a parlor and in most cases small sizes.

Most of these houses have been dilapidated and begging for renovation. The CDC seems to be moving in the right direction by constructing new camps like that of Njonge, but despite the fact that the rooms are larger, some workers with more than two members of same family cannot afford to live in one room. The case of Irene VEKIMA whose husband has been working with CDC for ten years now, she told Cameroun Journal that they are five in number with just one bed room and a parlor; the children are forced to sleep in the living room due to lack of space. The United Nations Human Rights for Central Africa working group of Journalists also noted that the Njonge new Camp has not met with evolution in terms of modernity. The houses constructed are not modern, their toilets too. Whereas camps in areas such as Tiko, Middle farms, Limbe, Moliwe have modern toilets.

They concluded that modern camps will only be completed if toilets are modern. Most of these pit toilets are at time insufficient as compared to the number of inhabitants thus could lead to over crowdedness. For instance at the new Camp in Njonge where over 140 families are expected to be lodged, only 6 toilets and 6 bathe rooms are available for men and same figures for women. Some camps especially those in the interior do not have recreational centers where workers could assemble and release stress after hard labor. The creation of recreational and leisure centers such as playgrounds, parks, camps will boast the output of workers.Going by the 2012 studies of International Journal of Humanities and Social sciences , ‘’workplace recreation significantly contributes to employee productivity when viewed as part of rewards and benefits scheme.

This is achieved through motivation, body fitness and reduction in absenteeism. The results are consistent with those of a research by Department of Health Development, IIES (2006) which revealed negative correlations between productivity and subjective symptoms such stiff neck, low back pain and fatigue’’. The group however acknowledged the fact that Senior Service, S S clubs, exists with Tennis courts but a majority of those benefitting are found in urban areas. Most CDC camps are surrounded by waste materials which have either not been properly disposed or neglected.

This causes environmental pollution and is also fertile breeding grounds for Mosquitoes which transmits Malaria, one of killer diseases in Cameroon. Also poor drainage systems in CDC camps could stagnant water which can easily breeds mosquitoes. The presence of the water bodies can also be dangerous to surrounding residence especially children. And if adequate measures are not taken, can lead to floods in cases of downpour. The Cameroon Development Corporation has also put in place 100% health coverage but those living in suburbs will find it difficult to have access to quality health especially in cases of emergency. The UNHR working group of Journalists have recommended the acquisition of well equipped emergency ambulances that could transport serious cases to town and also the provision of modern equipments in its health centers found in camps.

According to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as adopted on 6 December by the General Assemble on December 6, 1966 and entry into force on January 3, 1976 and considering the obligation for enterprises to respect their engagements in Corporate Social Responsibilities, the working group of Journalists noted with satisfactory the role played so far by CDC but noted that the above mentioned lapses must be corrected as prescribed by article 12 of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on quality standard of living, mental health, industrial hygiene and improvement environmental aspects.

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Prince Nfor Hanson

30.Sep.2016

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It has been a hectic week for Mrs. Chantal Biya, who was very engaged in several activities at the 71^st UN General Assembly.

The job of a First Lady may appear glamorous, but below the surface, it comes with a lot of heavy work. This 71^st session of the UN General Assembly in particular, has been very hectic for the First Lady of Cameroon. Apart from the usual duties required of her by State Protocol, Mrs. Chantal Biya was at the forefront of several activities geared at either promoting a laudable cause, consolidating bilateral relations or working in support of one of the several UN Goodwill Ambassador positions she actively holds.

To begin with, Mrs Biya braved the rain that battered New York on Monday September 19, 2016, to honour the invitation of Mrs Michelle Obama, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in midtown Manhattan. The Broadway event was an initiative of the US Government’s “Let Girls Learn” program, which is a brainchild of President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama, in an effort to shed some light on the plight of millions of young girls around the world that have been cheated out of the right to standard education. Given that Mrs. Biya herself is well-known for her prolific activism in this domain, the occasion was a perfect avenue for her to showcase the advances Cameroon has made in this regard through her Foundation’s project dubbed “Ecole des Champions” ventures. The “Tea Party” reception at the Sutton Place residence of the UN Secretary General was another avenue for Mrs Biya and the wife of the UN Secretary-General Mrs. Ban Soon-Taek, together with over 170 First Ladies present at this year’s session of the UN General Assembly, to certainly work at consolidating the ties that exist between the various nations as well as their different social activities in their countries. 

When President Paul Biya, took to the rostrum to address his peers at the UN General Assembly, First Lady, Chantal Biya dutifully applied herself to the rigorous task of seating through the entire session, as her husband unveiled his vision for the theme of the 71^st session, “The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform Our World”. With her characteristic good humour, the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Social Inclusion cheered her husband on, certainly reflecting on more initiatives in this domain, to complement the excellent work her associations such as the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC) and the African Synergy Against HIV and Suffering, are currently doing. It is evident with much satisfaction that Chantal Biya will be leaving New York with more grease to her elbows…

Brenda YUFEH NCHEWNANG-NGASSA

Cameroon Tribune

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Brenda YUFEH NCHEWNANG-NGASSA

28.Sep.2016

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