Address by the President of the Republic, on the Occasion of the Official Launching of Campaign for Legislative and Municipal Elections.

"Fellow Cameroonians,

My dear countrymen,

In a fortnight, you will be voting your members of the National Assembly and your municipal councillors.

These twin elections are important on more than one score.

First, they offer you the opportunity to exercise your voting right which is a fundamental right in democracy. As it were, voting is also a civic right which enables each citizen to participate in public affairs.

I hope you will turn out in your numbers to vote on 22 July.

A massive participation will be evidence of the vitality of our democratic system. Moreover, measures have been taken to guarantee free and fair polls in order to avoid any challenge of the outcome of the said elections.

It is also important that the upcoming elections determine clear majorities at the National Assembly and in municipal councils. It is on this condition that we will be able to continue to refine our democratic

Indeed, we have resolutely engaged our drive to achieve our set objectives, that is, to emerge from underdevelopment and to modernize our country. It would be unthinkable to jeopardize this move at a time when there are many encouraging signals and greater opportunities for our country.

In recent years, we have made remarkable progress in the entrenchment of the rule of law and improvement of governance. We are restoring rules where they were flouted; we have introduced transparency where opaqueness reigned; and we have tracked down cases of reprehensible conduct and meted out punishment. This drive to restore order, especially the fight against corruption, will be continued.

We have also made significant efforts to get our economy back on the rails. Our public finance has been streamlined. Following the attainment of the completion point of the HIPC Initiative, our debt burden has been alleviated, giving room for public investment, internal debt settlement, recruitment in some sectors of the public service, etc.

If renewed growth is achieved - what we can reasonably hope for - employment would be stimulated. In this connection, I also have in mind major energy, industrial and mining projects which are under negotiation. I am fully aware that unemployment remains your prime concern, and that is why we will leave no stone unturned to roll it back.

At the social level, major actions have been taken in favour of education and health. In addition, roads, bridges and various infrastructure have been constructed or are under construction. It goes without saying that the purpose of these facilities is to afford the people equal opportunities and better living conditions.

On this score, although appropriate measures have been taken, admittedly, efforts still have to be made to increase purchasing power and access to water and electricity. Let me assure you that this will be done.

However, my intention today is not to draw up an exhaustive balance sheet of government action. I just want to tell you that we have gathered momentum to move swiftly and as far as possible. It would therefore be unbelievable to slow down the pace.

The peace and stability which our country fortunately enjoys are most conducive for the achievement of our ambitions. For their part, our partners have clearly demonstrated their readiness to back our efforts. If others trust us, shouldn't we trust ourselves?

So, let us set aside our differences. Let us together focus on the essential. Let us give our country majorities for progress which will enable us to pursue our fight against poverty and to achieve modernity.

In so doing, our future is guaranteed.

Long live Cameroon!"