By Njoh Linda
A rice distribution to five mayors in Cameroon’s Momo Division has triggered debate over the selection of beneficiaries, after Senator Enwi Francis announced that the food would be shared with councillors and council staff.
In a Facebook post on October 16, the senator said he had given rice to the five mayors for distribution to council officials, describing the gesture as an act of generosity during a challenging period.
The announcement prompted some observers to question whether the assistance should instead have gone to households facing food insecurity, including widows, orphans and other vulnerable residents.
Cox Regggie, one of the commenters, argued that people in places including Menka and Eka-Bifang were in greater need of support than salaried council workers.
Others questioned whether the intervention addressed the division’s longer-term needs. Ambe Livinus suggested that road maintenance and drainage construction would benefit more people, while Daga Charleston Anyi called for improved roads. Nanji Providence proposed constructing boreholes to improve access to water in villages and subdivisions.
Hedwig Assurance welcomed the senator’s initiative but called for similar efforts to improve basic services across Momo’s five subdivisions.
The debate comes amid reports that the rice was part of food aid donated by China to Cameroon for vulnerable populations. However, the specific allocation arrangements for the rice distributed in Momo, including the criteria used to select beneficiaries, have not been independently verified.
The senator’s announcement did not explain how the intended recipients were selected or whether their individual needs had been assessed.
The comments reflect competing views on how assistance should be distributed and whether immediate food relief should be accompanied by investments in essential infrastructure.