CI-NEWS

Indigenous mayors.

2019-12-24

No: 462

Indigenous mayors.

By Lukong Pius Nyuylime, Cameroon Tribune

The introduction of Section 246(1) of Chapter 1 pertaining to powers of the city council is certainly a measure to recognize the administrative rights of indigenes.

The dust raised by the use of the word “native” in section 246 (1) stating inter alia that the mayor of the city council shall henceforth be an indigene of the region of attachment of the city council is fast settling down following the adoption of the bill to institute the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities. After all the debate that even went beyond parliament in the social and traditional media, the bill was adopted but with some changes for the purpose of precision. Instead of simply saying “the city mayor shall be a native of the region of attachment of the city council”, the section was finally adopted in session to read, “the city mayor who is a municipal councilor of a sub divisional council shall be a native of the region of attachment of the city council.” This adjustment was surely made to avoid a situation where the post will be open to just anyone including unelected indigenes. The Minister in charge of Decentralisation while defending the bill tried to erase from the minds of law makers and many other Cameroonians the whole idea of thinking that limiting the position of city mayor to an indigene is tantamount to the promotion of tribalism.

The argument that holds water in support of the decision to empower natives is that which is backed by the respect of the United Nations Charter on Human Rights and Indigenous People. This charter delineates and defines the individual and collective rights of Indigenous peoples, including their ownership rights to cultural and ceremonial expression, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues. Adopted in December, 2007, the Charter emphasizes the rights of Indigenous peoples to “maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions, and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations”. It “prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples” and “promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them and their right to remain distinct and to pursue their own visions of economic and social development.”

The bill already adopted by the lower house of Parliament does not however completely close the door for non natives. Section 247 (1) specifies that the mayor shall be assisted by elected deputy mayors ranging from two to five depending on the number of sub-divisional councils within a city. The law is silent on whether or not all these should be indigenous councilors but it emphasizes that the distribution of the positions of deputy mayors must as much as possible, reflect the configuration of the city council board. The whole idea of limiting the post of mayor to natives corroborates the initial criteria used in appointing Government Delegates which surprisingly did not raise lots of criticism except for the fact that the post of government delegate was considered as undemocratic.

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Indigenous mayors.