Legendary Cameroonian musician Emmanuel Dibango shocked his fans across the world and in Cameroon in particular after he announced on Wednesday he was tested positive for the coronavirus pandemic. “Manu Dibango is taking some rest and recovers in serenity, he wants you to respect his privacy and looks forward to meeting you soon,” a Facebook which has triggered several reactions said. Sources close to the Saxophonist confirmed that he was admitted to a French hospital for a different disease when he got infected. The 86-year-old jazz has won several awards and distinctions.
Prime Minister Dion Ngute has decided that court sessions will hold but maintained it must go on with less than fifty audiences. Dion Ngute spoke today, backtracking on an initial decision banning all public activities including court hearings. The new decision insists that offices should remain open and that authorities should avoid gatherings of more than 50 persons. The PM also briefed the press on the latest on the deadly coronavirus. There are three confirmed new cases bringing to 13, the total number of those infected in the West African nation. It is not known whether Ambazonian leaders will appear in court as planned.
As day one of the 13 measures to limit the corona virus spread in Cameroon comes to an end, residents of Douala say the forces of law and order have visited popular bars forcing them to go home. “We depend on generators of those bars to charge our phones but now we are going home before they come down here and meet us” one resident tells MMI. The security forces the local adds have promised to deal with anyone caught disregarding the PM’s measures. Among other things PM Dion Ngute had instructed that bars should close by 6PM.
The full Bureau of Cameroon’s lower House of Parliament is composed of:
-Cavaye Yeguie Djibril – House Speaker
Vice House Speakers; -Baoro Thoephile CPDM,
-Monjowa Lifaka Emilia CPDM,
-Kombo Gberi CPDM,
-Datoua Theodore CPDM,
-Abba Alim NUPD, Questors;
-Kamsouloum Abba CPDM,
-Bekono Ebah Pauline CPDM,
-Njingum Musah CPDM,
-Osih Joshua SDF, Secretaries; -Silikam nee Manamourou CPDM, – Djomgoue Paul Eric CPDM -Nkodo Dang CPDM, -Toukam Angela Tela CPDM,
-Nanga Mafany CPDM,
-Saya Kaigama CPDM,
-Lawson Tabot CPDM,
-Atangana Aligui CPDM,
-Ali Salihou CPDM,
-Dooh Collins CPDM,
-Libii Linguie Cabril CPNR,
-Hon Ndam.
Prime Minister Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute has condemned weaknesses in the process used by the Littoral Regional Governor to quarantine travellers in Douala, Tuesday March 17th 2020. Speaking on the 5pm news on CRTV, the PM regrets that some of the sites selected to host the passengers failed to meet up basic standards. The PM further demanded that urgent measures be taken to remedy the situation
The number of Coronavirus cases in Cameroon has increased by three between March 17 and March 18 2020, according to official sources. Writing on his official Facebook page Manaouda Malachie of public health said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen to from 10 to 13, recorded as of March 17, 2020. Two of the three cases have been recorded in Bafoussam, West region of Cameroon.
The Governor of the Littoral region of Cameroon Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua has dismissed rumours that 400 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Douala. In a press conference in Douala today, the Governor said less than 300 passengers arrived Douala Tuesday march 17th 2020, and have not been tested positive of COVID-19 yet. He went further to say the passengers have been quarantined in some Hotels in Douala.
Municipal elections have been annulled in Maroua 1 and Bourha Councils in the Far north region of Cameroon. The decision was taken by the administrative court in Maroua, Chief town of the Far North region.
Despite government order to shutdown schools as part of measures to limit the spread of the Coronavirus, some schools today Wednesday, March 18 violated the decision. In Buea, pupils and students could be seen heading out for classes this morning. This is same with some Higher Institutions of learning in the town that has not halted their ongoing examinations.
Residents of Mankon, Bamenda in the North West region say they barely slept last night due to gunshots. “Pray for Mankon, guns from all directions, around Ni John Fru Ndi’s residence, ENEO, Ntarikon,” a resident told MMI. For the last weeks, the town has witnessed an increase in tensions between separatist fighters and soldiers.
Cameroonians in quarantine at Hotel Safana earlier today decried living conditions in the facility. In an audio message, one of them said they had not been served breakfast at about 10 AM and no medical doctor had checked their living condition, accusing the government of abandoning them.
The Urban Jamz award ceremony that was set to take place on March 20th 2020 in Akwa, Douala has been rescheduled to a later date due to the government lockdown. The awards organizers like those of several shows and entertainment programs put off their plans till further notice due to the lockdown imposed by the government to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) has also been postponed.
The Archbishop of Douala, Msgr Samuel Kleda has set March 20th as a day of prayer against the Coronavirus. In a release today, the clergyman also implored Christian faithful to respect measures set aside by the state to contain the spread of the virus.
The Littoral Governor refutes poor treatment of Cameroonians from the diaspora quarantined in Douala. In a press briefing today Wednesday, March 18th, the governor called on family members of all those quarantined in hotels in the city of Douala not pay any visit indicating that the government is taking care of them. The Governor equally refuted claims that persons that arrived Douala International airport are already infected by the Coronavirus.
The Cameroon People Democratic Movement (CPDM) prepares to celebrate its 35th anniversary on the 24th of March. In a release signed by the Secretary-General Jean Kuete today, militants have been called to celebrate in strict respect to Coronavirus preventive measures put in place by the Prime Minister.
Three new cases of Coronavirus registered in Cameroon today. Two were in the West region and one in Yaoundé. Cameroon Minister of the Public Health says the people got the virus after coming in contact with other infected people. The three new cases bring the total number to 13 in Cameroon.
Inhabitants of Douala have been criticizing Cameroonians from Coronavirus infected countries for neglecting prevention practices since they arrived Douala yesterday. Some of these people took videos of themselves drinking along the streets rather than respecting a 14 day quarantine period imposed by the government. There have been calls for these compatriots to respect preventive measures and minimize chances of spreading the virus.
The Governor of Littoral region says some Cameroonians who arrived Douala yesterday from France where stranded on the streets of Akwa because they wanted a more befitting hotel than that offered by the state of Cameroon. Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboa mentioned that in a press briefing today in Douala. He says government is to monitor people from abroad even after their period of quarantine.
Churches in Douala are violating some of the Coronavirus preventive measures stated by the Prime Minister. At Saint Peter and Paul’s Cathedral, over 150 Christians took part in a morning mass. Several other Pentecostal churches have been organizing church services regardless of a measure that prohibits the gathering of more than 50 people.
Schools and courts in Cameroon have been shut down indefinitely as a preventive measure against Coronavirus. Some few students and pupils that arrived their schools in Douala today were told to go home and wait when the government will announce school resumption. Students in examination classes have been advised to continue studies at home while waiting for an end to Coronavirus.
There is timid campaign in ten constituencies in the North West and one in the South West regions ahead of legislative election rerun this Sunday, March 22. Insecurity is partly responsible given that military and separatist confrontations are still on.
A prominent Kenyan doctor is waiting for his results after developing coronavirus symptoms. Ahmed Kalebi, the co-founder and chief executive of Lancet Laboratories, tweeted that he had self-isolated after developing fever and cough. Meantime, A man suspected of having coronavirus in south-eastern Kenya was beaten up by a group of youths and later died in hospital. Kenya’s health ministry has so far confirmed seven cases of coronavirus.
Mauritius, a popular tourist spot, has imposed a two-week travel ban on citizens of the European Union, UK, and Switzerland starting midnight local time (20:00 GMT). These measures were taken after recommendations from the World Health Organization to curb the spread of the coronavirus which causes the Covid-19 disease, said Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.
Zambia has confirmed its first two cases of Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus, involving a couple who had travelled to France, the health minister has told the BBC. They had gone on holiday for 10 days with their two children and were told to self-isolate on their return home on Sunday, Chitalu Chilufya said.
Burkina Faso has announced its first death from Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus. It is first recorded death from the coronavirus in West Africa. The authorities say the patient was Rose Marie Compaoré, a vice-president in the national assembly. She was a diabetic woman aged 62 years.
Nigeria has placed a travel ban on people coming from 13 countries worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak as five new cases were recorded in Africa’s most-populous nation. That brings the country’s total number of patients with Covid-19 to eight.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has met leaders of the country’s main political parties and has appealed for solidarity in the fight against coronavirus. At a news conference, opposition politicians confirmed they were backing the government’s efforts. South Africa has seen another jump in coronavirus cases – with 116 now confirmed as the country introduces new measures to shut its borders and schools across the country. The numbers are still rising sharply from one case a fortnight ago.
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a national disaster over coronavirus even as the country is yet to confirm any case. Mr Mnangagwa has also postponed independence day celebrations scheduled for 18 April and banned all public gatherings of more than 100 people. (Source Foreign News: BBC Africa)
