Very few were those who believed that what started late 2016 as lawyers and teachers’ strike would degenerate to this extent putting the two Anglophone regions on their knees like never before.
Following the peaceful marches carried out by lawyers and teachers trade unions as well as the local population to request for better treatment of Anglophones in the management of public affairs, government took steps to address the issues raised but for the form of the state. It goes without saying that the peaceful nonviolence civil disobedience demonstrated on the 22 of September 2017 paid off.
Among the gains gotten from the peaceful actions are the creation of the National commission for the promotion of bilingualism and multiculturalism, the common law department at ENAM, the Common law bench at the supreme court (headed by an Anglophone-Chief justice Epuli Mathias), the recruitment of 1000 bilingual teachers for government technical colleges, the creation of a school of engineering at the university of Bamenda in Bambili, the appointment of Anglophones to some key government ministries which was never the case before and availing the English version of the OHADA law to the public. Meanwhile government is gradually making an effort to ensure the fair use of both national languages since then. The Head of state’s decrees are now signed both in English and French.
Unfortunately, government’s stance not to negotiate on the form of the state radicalized separatists into picking up arms and wreak havoc on a peaceful people who wanted nothing but an amelioration of their living conditions, better life, social inclusion and not secession.
Separatists imposed what they called “ghost towns” which still continue till date especially on Mondays in the greater part of Anglophone Cameroon. At least 40 schools alongside other public structures and personal property were razed by the separatists in a move they described as civil disobedience. For two years, schools have been hibernating. Parents have been forced to send their kids to neighbouring regions like the West and the Littoral. Some go even as far as Yaoundé depending on where they have relatives ready to host them.
The North West region most especially does not have industries nor companies that provide jobs. The region’s economy hinges mostly on schools business and petit trade. The proliferation of schools here speaks volumes. But since the outbreak of the Anglophone crisis, most of the schools have shut down. Others who have braved the threats from separatists to continue business say their enrollments have dropped to near zero. The CEO of Saint Louis University institute of health and biomedical sciences, Dr Nick Ngwanyam said in L’Action that “our enrollment has dropped to barely 35%. We think we all have a responsibility to help bring things back to normal. If we continue to stay home in the name of observing ghost towns, then we are the problem.” Most private schools are just a shadow of themselves now in terms of enrollment. At the National Polytech in Bambui, one barely sees a few students. Some of the hostels around the campus which used to be filled with students are all empty now. Some schools proprietors who have been unable to cope with the chaotic situation simply folded up. While their teachers have resorted to bike riding in other to make ends meet.
In areas like Boyo division which is the epicenter of gun battle between armed separatists and the regular army, teachers of schools there have fled to Bamenda with some enrolling into the Bamenda university for further studies.
Deposits in local banks and microfinance institutions is said to have dropped drastically as a result of ghost towns and curfews which prohibit locals from doing business fulltime like before.
According to Dr Nick Ngwanyam “the crisis has dragged for this long because as a people we are not doing things according to principles. We did not tackle the problem on time and it escalated with the use of force on both sides which of course we condemn. The right medicine to a problem has never been force.” He goes further to call on us all to respect life because every life is important. No one should take away the life of another person.
What ever be the case, I hold firm to the fact that all demands can be achieved without violence. Many countries in Africa succeeded witout violence or taking up arms. It is necessary for us to rather multiply our numbers on the streets to ask for the reforms we desire. It is not too late for us to address the situation. Ceasefire on both sides and open up for dialogue will bail us out. The time is Now!
#PeaceIsPossible.
Ambe Macmillian A.
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