Bishops Want Embezzled Money Reimbursed to Cameroonians

Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon have strongly decried the normalization of corruption, embezzlement and misappropriation in the country’s public sector, stating that these ills deprive citizens of basic social amenities.

In a statement that marked the end of their 48th annual seminar in Buea, they requested authorities to get those found guilty of stealing public funds to reimburse it.

They decried the inability of millions of Cameroonians to enjoy their rights to food, good environment, roads, quality health and education because of bad governance and corruption.

These ills have continued to thrive, despite repeated pledges by President Paul Biya, in power for 42 years, to stop them.

“We welcome the constant willingness to sanction those responsible for misappropriating public funds,” the Bishops wrote.

“In the event that this is fruitful, we ask that the money unjustly taken from Cameroonians be reimbursed to the public treasury. We also demand that those charged with recovering embezzled funds of the state should not have to endure threats and intimidation of any kind,” they added.

Lack of Commitment to Fight Corruption

Biya, 91, promised “rigor and moralization” when he took over from Cameroon’s first President Ahmadou Ahidjo in 1982.

He meant that he would ensure discipline in the public sector, and combat corruption and misappropriation.

But 42 years into his reign, ordinary citizens say rigor and moralization are unrealistic in his government and politicians have been plundering the nation’s wealth.

Roman Catholic Bishops also shared the same view. They observed a lack of willingness among government officials to eradicate corruption.

“In 2000, we deplored the fact that our country seems defacto installed in corruption.Each of us seems obliged to corrupt or to be corrupted,” the Bishops wrote.

“It’s as if we are forced to live with corruption, to accept it as part of our daily existence, and in so doing, we only reinforce it. We can’t seem to do anything to get rid of it. Embezzled public funds can only considerably slow down the country’s progress towards development, while at the same time preventing any Cameroonian from enjoying a minimum standard of living.”

The diversion of public funds to private pockets, the Bishops said, has impoverished the ordinary citizen, forcing many to find solace only in migration.

“Cameroonians feel a real despondency because of the lack that is on the rise in our country. Many of our fellow citizens are living in dramatically precarious conditions and in deplorable, undignified conditions.

“Unemployment among young people seems to have no end in sight,even among graduates. Hence, the mass exodus from the country in search of greener pastures.”

The prelates asked those the state has employed to fight against corruption to deliver on the job.

Bishops Say No Peace Without Development

The Bishops were also concerned about the lost of lives in ongoing armed conflicts in the country.

These are notably the separatist conflict in the English-speaking North West and South West Regions, and jihadist attacks in the Far North.

Talking particularly about the Anglophone Crisis, the Bishops pointed to underdevelopment as one of its root causes.

The conflict started in 2016 as an industrial strike of lawyers and teachers before skyrocketing into an armed conflict. This was after the rest of the population joined the strike to demand better living conditions.

Since then, thousands of people have died, and hundreds of thousands displaced.

While lauding the gradual return of peace in the Anglophone regions, the Bishops noted that this peace would not last if citizens lack basic necessities.

“There can be no peace without development, says Pope Paul VI. Peace is an integral part of the development of our people. While there has been some progress in building basic infrastructure, our country is still a long way from achieving the goals of sustainable development,” the prelates wrote.

They equally advocated for greater freedom of expression in Cameroon. But they refrained talking about the upcoming presidential elections, where 91-year-old Biya might be seeking another mandate.

Bishops Criticize Those Benefiting from Conflicts

One of the issues the prelates strongly condemned is people who are using the conflicts in the country for wealth making and to settle scores.

They referenced the Anglophone armed conflict, stating that it has turned into scores-settling.

The Bishops said that the conflict, which started as a crisis, has not ended because many are benefiting from it.

Tata Mbunwe contributed to this article.