Professor Gervais Mendo Ze to be laid to rest today

The late CRTV General Manager’s journey to eternity began yesterday in Yaoundé with the removal of his corpse from the Yaoundé General Hospital Mortuary, followed by a pontifical mass at the Notre Dames des Victoires Cathedral.

His body is set for burial in his home town, Sangmelima today.

Professor Gervais Mendo Ze died some weeks ago at the age of 76 at the Yaoundé General Hospital after suffering from a prolonged illness. At the time of his death, the Professor was serving a 20-year jail term at the Yaoundé Kondengui Central Prison for embezzlement and mismanagement of public funds during his time as CRTV General Manager.

While in jail, Mendo Ze’s health took a hit and started deteriorating terribly, bringing in the need for an urgent medical evacuation. Despite a request for action on the Professor’s health by the family members, the government did not grant him the much needed medical leave.

Despite the refusal, an unfounded rumour of a presidential clemency being granted to Mendo Ze made rounds on media houses, something which reportedly did not happen as no legal proofs were provided to this effect.

When Mendo Ze got sentenced in 2019, his lawyers appealed to the supreme court, questioning the trial which had found him guilty of embezzling over 18 billion FCFA and sentencing him to 20 years in jail.

The appeal has remained unresolved since 2019. This week, however, the case was adjourned to May by the Supreme Court.