Cameroon’s governance blunders: Stakeholders say political transition only way out

The outcry in Cameroon for a long time now has seen continuous calls by most Cameroonians at home and abroad for power change. Many believe the status quo has failed, and change is needed to take Cameroonians and Cameroon to the next level.

During the 4th online panel discussions organised by the Stand Up For Cameroon movement on their official Facebook page, participants made some interesting points worth elaborating on.
Cameroon has been under the present Biya’s regime for close to 40 years and many say Biya must now make way for fresh blood to take over.

According to Augusta Epanya, Founder of the UPC Manidem, elections in Cameroon have failed woefully and should not be relied upon for a change in power. The electoral processes from the start have always been controlled and managed by the ruling CPDM party, consequently making it impossible for a free and transparent election. The country is currently on a standstill with the present regime and it requires a complete and radical transformation, he opines.

Political transitions, according to the actors, have worked in multiple places and Cameroon could draw inspiration from them. Special mention was made of the political revolution in Burkina Faso, where the dictatorial regime of Blaise Compaore was ended after a massive revolution by the people.

In Cameroon, for the political transition to achieve the same success as it did in Burkina Faso, certain things must be achieved by the civil society. Some of these conditions, the actors says, includes: building and handing power to the people, organisation of non-violent movements to mount pressure on the regime, organise an all inclusive dialogue, rewriting the constitution and the electoral code of the country.

Women leader Mrs Nkwa Elizabeth suggested that for the civil society to gain the masses, they have to do what the CPDM has done for a long time. Gaining the support of the grassroots, making the women and the youths active participants of the revolution. Youths in Cameroon have often taken the observers role. They should be allowed to take more risks into the political field and kill the mentality that “politics is for the old”.

Barrister Agbor Balla reiterated the Anglophone problem in Cameroon could only be solved if the form of the state is discussed. That to him can only be achieved through a political transition with the civil society at the helm of it all.
The current regime in power does not want to solve the Anglophone crisis because they are not willing to discuss the form of the state, said the human rights lawyer.

Political parties need to galvanise themselves into a single unit and find a unifying way to push through these political transitions, Agbor Balla advised. This can only be hoped for because historically, opposition political parties have often fought themselves rather than the ruling party.

Every political opposition party with the strict exception of the CPDM should be involved in political transition because according to Mrs Augusta Epanya, you cannot include the problem in your solution. Mr Biya’s regime and the ruling party have been Cameroon’s problem which so much has to be radically kicked out of power by a people’s revolution in Cameroon.

Mimi Mefo Info