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Cameroon: Alfred Forgwei Mbeng - 'Democratic Process Provides Mandate Limitations To All Positions'
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Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)
INTERVIEW
24 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008
WAFFO MONGO/ Emmanuel KENDEMEH
Alfred Forgwei Mbeng, Bui V (Noni) CPDM Section President.
The debate on the amendment of the constitution is a household talk in Cameroon today. As CPDM section, do people at the grassroots really know what the debate is all about?
The debate on constitutional amendment is the question of the times in Cameroon. We had a seminar organised by the Central Committee of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) for CPDM, WCPDM and YCPDM section presidents. The purpose of the seminar was twofold. One: to update the knowledge of section presidents on the basic texts of the party. Secondly and more importantly, was the focus on the possible amendment of the country's constitution. Much has been said and written about Article 6 (2) of the constitution that deals with the mandate of the President of the Republic. Most people in the rural areas from where I come are not well informed of what the amendment of the constitution is all about. In fact on 9 March 2008, I was on tour in Bui V (Noni) section of the CPDM to pass down to the sub-sections executive members and the grassroots what we learned during the party's seminar.
During the session in Nkor- Noni, many people asked questions on constitutional amendment exhibiting a lot of ignorance as to the necessity and the practicability of it. We informed them that it will not be the first time a constitution is amended in Cameroon or anywhere in the world. The first thing for them to know was that constitutions are amended from time to time depending on the social situation of the country at a given moment. We told them how a constitution can be amended using historical facts in Cameroon.
We drew their attention to the fact that talking in terms of democracy where numbers matter, the majority of countries in the free world today have constitutions that do not limit the mandate of the president. We said in old democracies, like in France and Britain, the mandate of the president is not limited. Therefore as grassroots leaders of the CPDM and considering our present needs and democratic evolution of the country, we believe that the limitation of the presidential mandate is undemocratic. We think that the democratic process by its very nature provides limitations to all positions. Whenever the population feels that a leader at given level is no longer serving the purpose for which he was democratically elected, they have the total power through the ballot box to limit his mandate.
Is it the right moment to start changing the constitution when the local population is preoccupied with issues of daily bread?
I think the present situation in the country is particularly favourable for us to call for the non- limitation of the presidential mandate. This is in order that at a given moment if President Paul Biya feels up to the task as he has always been and listening to the massive calls that Cameroonians from across the board are making nationwide, at the right time he judges that he would want to present his candidature, there should be no limitation. We in rural areas believe that President Paul Biya's projects contained in the "Greater ambitions programme" need a lot of time in order to be realised. We already see a number of major projects in the horizon. If he has the time to see them through, we will be able to alleviate poverty in this country, create jobs and provide better days for Cameroonians. In the present contexts, it is just very timely to talk about the constitutional amendment with one of the major concerns being the non-limitation of the presidential mandate.
What do you say to people who believed that President Biya is being forced to remain in power for life?
We have had experiences in Africa where we have life presidents, life emperors but President Paul Biya has never at any moment indicated either covertly or overtly that he wants to remain to be a life president. We think it is the right time to take away this constitutional provision that limits the mandate of any person who becomes the Head of State in Cameroon. The constitutional amendment is just one of the many democratic projects he wants to carry out during his tenure of office just as he is carrying out other projects.
What message do you have for the population considering calls from some political leaders that Cameroonians should resist the constitutional amendment?
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President Paul Biya is a democrat who allows free expression. Therefore, the political leaders who call on people to resist the constitutional amendment do this within their freedom of expression so long as the freedom is not misused. I want to echo the calls of well meaning Cameroonians. My message is that the population should continue to be calm and vigilant not to fall prey to calls of any nature to go to the streets. They should have confidence in their Head of State, Paul Biya who has the mandate of all Cameroonians to manage the affairs of State including any possible constitutional amendment. They should have confidence in President Biya who has the wisdom having ruled Cameroon for a long time to choose the opportune moment when he thinks this matter can be tabled at the right forum.
in all sincerity, this is absolutely full of crap!! in order to keep an ongoing Democracy, naming a leader that has done almost no good to the country is not the way to go. i understand cameroon requires multiple reforms in order to be put in the same rank as alot of the countries of the world... starting with an econamical reform, an educational reform and so forth... all this require time and some new way to approach the problems. cameroon has had the same a government that has almost not changed for a period of ten years... they need... [Read Full Text]
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