Nkendem Forbinake
10 July 2009
The very disturbing issue of who does what in our municipalities, with special focus on those headed by appointed government delegates, is up again for discussion.
For the umpteenth time! This time, the Minister of State, Minister for Territorial Administration thought it wise to summon all stakeholders in the management of the nation's mega-municipalities to see if, in a civilized and accepted manner, roles could be clearly defined in a way as to minimize the recurrent incidents of misunderstanding between the government delegates and sub-divisional urban council mayors.
Across the 14 cities with government delegates, the problem of co-habitation between appointed officials (Government delegates) and elected representatives of the people (Sub-Divisional Council Mayors) has never been more manifest. The disagreements take several dimensions which could range from purely policy questions to those of personal temperament. For, it must be said that in several instances, some officials beaten in elections, find a short-cut into the position of Government Delegate and, therefore, having to statutorily lord it over elected officials. This can only make for dissent and frustration.
These disagreements, for the meantime, are not dramatic, but clearly tell of the difficulty of applying existing laws on the ground. And here, the various actors were not very reserved when it comes to talking about their experiences. The Kumba Government Delegate Victor Nkelle Ngoh was particularly upbeat about the holding of the Yaounde meeting because, according to him, it was virtually impossible to function in Kumba in the face of the hostility of Sub-divisional Urban Council Mayors.
It is the wish of many citizens, particularly the millions who live in these municipalities, to see that their concerns are no longer sacrificed on the alter of political bickering between Government Delegates and elected mayors. The stakes are too important and the gravity of the situation in many municipalities too high to leave the present situation continue to degenerate to the detriment of Cameroonians for whom it is not only a favour, but a right, to see developmental acts trickle down to them.
The government has clearly stated its resolve to decentralize which, in essence, means devolving huge quantities of decision-making powers to elected officials at the grassroots or to simplified decision-making bodies such as government delegations, in a way as to make for the participation of citizens in developmental initiatives that affect them.
It is not when the government wants decentralized units, such as councils, to be more assertive that it will be called upon to adjudicate in such down-to-earth issues as the management of market stalls, the payment of market tolls, the organization of motor parks, the mapping out of building plots or the collection of household refuse or the location of cemeteries, in its place.
The Yaounde come together, which ends today, was convened to explain the functioning formula of the numerous texts that exist. Whether that issue will be properly addressed will be seen in the depth and scope of the resolutions to be taken today when the various stakeholders end their meeting.
But over and above all, the various stakeholders, ought to come together in a synergy which takes into consideration the need to address the concerns of the ordinary citizens rather than pleasing political patrons up the hierarchy line. Government will certainly call all to order at the end of this meeting, but all of them know how to deliver; and effectively. There is no reason hiding under the opacity of texts to refuse citizens services which are rightfully theirs.
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