CI-NEWS

Biya’s Marshall Plan for NW/SW: Hopes, fears & prospects. Tasong mission gets ‘Baptism of Fire’ i

2020-07-01

No: 508

Biya’s Marshall Plan for NW/SW: Hopes, fears & prospects.

Tasong mission gets ‘Baptism of Fire’ in Bamenda.

By GEORGE Etoh in Bamenda with field reports from Kimbi Clifford.

Anglophones are hoping for the best as consultative meetings began in view of carving out a roadmap for a ten-year reconstruction programme for areas badly damaged as a result of fighting between regular and non state armed groups for close to three years now.

The coordinator of the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development, PPRD-NW-SW, Paul Tasong, was upbeat as he launched the awareness and sensitisation campaign for the project in Bamenda last Monday.

Though there is general consensus that such a plan would help build back the economies of the two regions devastated by war, dissenting voices are coming from separatists who imposed a three-day lockdown to foil the project seen as a “public stunt” “designed to conceal war crimes and lay a flawed and unlawful claim to our land.” Kah Walla’s CPP also voiced pessimism about the project, noting that it was another white elephant intended to waste state resources as had been the case with the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multipartism and the recently organized Major National Dialogue.

Holding unto their somewhat selfish arguments, these pessimists appear to be insensitive to the sufferings of the masses in these two regions who only wish to mend their broken pieces of their lives and begin on a clean slate. The argument of peace and negotiations before reconstruction which they are holding unto in these gloomy circumstances therefore becomes out of place.

That is why some peace-conscious members of the North West elite braved the lockdown last Monday to be present at Up-station, Bamenda, to hear the message of hope from Tasong and then make contributions that can enrich Presaident Biya’s Marshall Plan.

The plan, according to government, is aimed at fulfilling one of the recommendations tabled during the Major National Dialogue. Paul Tasong alongside his SDF deputy, Njong Donatus, emissaries of PM Joseph Dion Ngute amongst others, met with traditional ,administrative as well as divisional delegations in a bid to fine-tune suitable approach mechanisms to redefine social as well as geo-infrastructural resettlement and reconstruction modalities.

Holding at the conference hall of the regional delegation for economy planning and regional development (MINEPAT) ,the the Yaounde lead team responded to worries tabled by attendees. One of such was the feasibility of such an initiative especially at a time when fighting is still the order of the day. To this the emissary hinted "rebuilding during crisis is possible.... we shall begin reconstruction from areas more peaceful to the less peaceful ".

Minister Tasong noted three essential elements of the plan: promotion of social cohesion, rebuild basic social infrastructure and revitalisation of the economy.

He further added the aim and purpose of the plan is for improved and sustainable standard of living, reversing the situation of hardship and putting an end to crisis vulnerability among others. This,he stressed, would be realised in the rebuilding and rehabilitation of schools, roads, water, electricity, houses and other structures lost in the course of the crisis. To him" being a refugee is not a permanent status". He thus urged all and sundry resident in the region to seize the initiative and better their livelihood."

The 2 hours time allocated for representatives of Boyo, Bui, Donga Mantung Menchum, Mezam, Momo and Ngoketunjia divisions reportedly held behind closed doors. To this it's only safe to say the methodology and worries to be expressed by the representatives may only be made known in due course.

"City Mayor calls for an all inclusive plan"

The Mayor of the Bamenda City Council, Paul Achobong, was best placed to expresses the hopes and fears of his population. He called for an all-inclusive plan which must take into account the immediate needs of the people. For example, he called for the tarring of the Babadjou-Bamenda road and the construction of the Bamenda Municipal Stadium to make his people feel they also belong.

"We have in one way or the other, individually and collectively, in our silence and indifference, in our utterances, in our actions and inactions contributed to the Anglophone crisis," he said.

"We cannot count the lives lost, buildings destroyed, jobs lost, families displaced, schools closed, businesses crumbled etc. We are at the crossroads, looking at the sorrows and bitterness of yesterday. Looking up to the hope and comfort of tomorrow. A sound of hatred seems to have severed the bond that held us together as one strong region."

Contrary to critics who think a feasible reconstruction is far-fetched, Achobong added “there are choices to be made, as the time and days of lamenting and mourning on the calamities of yesterday and seeking for avenues of revenge are long over."

Thus it’s ample time to gain strength, comfort, forgive and reconcile ourselves and look into the future," he stressed.

The Bamenda city landlord expressed regret that 2020 school year was perturbed by the crisis and now the coronavirus has left teachers with little or no salaries. He therefore used the medium to appeal for an inclusion of teachers in the restitution plan.

The Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions, PPRD-NW/SW, was inspired by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya when he “Instructed the creation of a working group at the Prime Minister’s Office which was effectively done on August 1st 2019, with the responsibility of elaborating the working document for the reconstruction of these regions,” said Dion Ngute while installing Tasong and Njong in Yaounde on 15 April 2020.

“In order to execute the important task, the working group carried out a wide range of consultations with the populations of the North West and South West regions. The populations expressed their aspirations of seeing their regions reconstructed and for life to return to normalcy.”

On the reconstruction and development spheres, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute noted that: “Three major areas required close attention; the reestablishment of social cohesion, the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure and the revamping of the local economy.”

To highlight the importance and weight of the plan, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute recalled that, “On December 5, 2019, a number of diplomatic representations attended the meeting in Yaoundé during which the reconstruction plan was [presented. The diplomats on behalf of their various countries agreed to support the financing of this plan which was later forwarded to the President of the Republic for his high approval. In a document approved by the Head of State, the Cameroon Government and its multilateral and bilateral partners agreed to mobilize the sum of over 89 billion.”

To the National Coordinator and Deputy National Coordinator, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute reminded them that the task ahead is daunting and demands diligence, hard work, and commitment.

“Among the tasks that await the newly appointed personalities are; the rehabilitation of about 350 schools, 115 health centers, 40 bridges, 400 power points, 500 KM of Low tension power points, 600KM of rural roads, 45 markets, 12000 houses, 25000hectares of farmland, livestock lost by grazers, the reestablishment of close to 3000 personal documents lost.”

The PM acknowledged that the PPRD-NW/SW National Coordinator Minister Paul Tasong contributed significantly to the development of the 10 years reconstruction plan for the North West and South West regions which was presented at the Major National Dialogue and validated after inputs from participants.

He described the two coordinators as emblematic and having a mastery of the two regions.

In order to match words with actions, PM Chief Dr. Dion Ngute, instructed that, “The National Coordinator and his Deputy, as a matter of urgency should set up a coordination team, prepare the first annual work plan and submit it to the steering committee for its approval.”

The PM then called on the stakeholders involved in the reconstruction exercise to collaborate for the interest of the PPRD-NW/SW.

“I want to call on the ministerial departments’ concerned with reconstruction, to give them their full collaboration for this program considering the particular importance the Head of State attaches to it,” Chief Dr. Dion Ngute said.

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Biya’s Marshall Plan for NW/SW: Hopes, fears & prospects. Tasong mission gets ‘Baptism of Fire’ i