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 President Paul BIYA chaired a Council of Ministers meeting at the Unity Palace on Thursday 15 March 2018. This was the first contact with Members of Government after the 2^nd  March cabinet reshuffle and the first of such cabinet meeting since 2015.

Below is Mr Biya's full speech at his rare cabinet meeting:

 

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING FOLLOWING THE CABINET RESHUFFLE OF 2 MARCH 2018

******* ADDRESS BY THE HEAD OF STATE Yaounde,

15 March 2018

 Mr. Prime Minister,

 Honourable Members of Government, You are welcome to Unity Palace on the occasion of this Council of Ministers Meeting which is taking place following the cabinet reshuffle of 2 March 2018. I would like to warmly congratulate those who have been newly promoted, as well as those who have been maintained.

Do strive to be worthy of the trust bestowed upon you! I urge you to work diligently so that, together, we meet the multiple challenges confronting our country. Our people expect nothing less from us.  Ladies and Gentlemen, Despite an unfavourable global economic context, the consolidation of our economic performance, the improvement of our people’s living conditions and the fight against unemployment must remain the Government’s core priorities. In this light, it is necessary to pursue the smooth implementation of the Programme concluded with the IMF.

There is also an urgent need to finalize the implementation of major structuring projects, the Emergency Growth Acceleration Plan and the Special Youth Plan. The operationalization of the Kribi Deep Sea Port and the second bridge over the Wouri augur well in that regard. 2 These and many other projects that have been or are soon to be completed may be commissioned this year. However, despite these excellent performances, we must not forget that much remains to be done. As I underscored recently in my message to the Nation, the Government should continue to put a special focus on outreach services, such as water and electricity supply, health, and road infrastructure.  Ladies and Gentlemen, I strongly reiterate my instructions on the need for judicious use of public resources, reduction of public spending and the fight against corruption. 

Each of you, in your respective spheres of competence, should rise to the performance challenge. The pursuit of the general interest and efficiency, solidarity, team spirit and respect for hierarchy, should guide your action at all times and in all circumstances; they constitute the standards by which you will be judged.

 Ladies and Gentlemen, Thanks to the firm action of our defence and security forces, we have been able to drastically curb the atrocities perpetrated by criminal groups in the Far North, North-West and South-West Regions. Efforts in that regard need to be continued, especially to ensure that economic and social activities return to normalcy. Our populations countrywide have continued to express their desire to be closely involved in running the affairs that directly impact their daily lives. The creation of the Ministry of Decentralization and Local Development is geared towards speedily addressing these repeated calls.

In the short term, I am expecting detailed proposals and a timeline for fast-tracking the on-going decentralization process. 3 Several elections are scheduled for this year, starting with the senatorial elections which will be held in the days ahead. Necessary measures must be taken to ensure that they are conducted in total calm and security.

The effective establishment of the Constitutional Council, whose members have just taken the oath of office, is a further guarantee of our determination to forge ahead with our democratic process. The necessary resources must be provided to ensure its optimal functioning. I am pleased with the efforts made thus far regarding preparations for AFCON 2019. I urge the various government services concerned to step up these efforts for Cameroon, Africa and the world to celebrate a grand and excellent football festival.

 Mr. Prime Minister,  Honourable Members of Government, The daunting task devolving upon you requires the full and total commitment of each and every one of you. It is your duty to fully mobilize the human resources under your authority to provide concrete answers to the legitimate concerns of our people. Such is and should always be the ultimate goal of your action. Thank you for your attention.

 

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Rita Akana

16.Mar.2018

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Zimbabwe’s former leader Robert Mugabe said he never thought new President Emmerson Mnangagwa would turn against him and denounced Mnangagwa’s move to oust him last year as a coup, in an interview broadcast on Thursday.

Mugabe, 94, ruled Zimbabwe from independence in 1980 until he stepped down under pressure from Mnangagwa’s allies in the army in November.

Viewed by some as a liberation hero, others remember Mugabe for turning a promising country into an economic basket case and international pariah.

Mnangagwa, deputy president under Mugabe, has promised to open up Zimbabwe to foreign investment and mend ties with the West since assuming power.

Mugabe, 94, ruled Zimbabwe from independence in 1980 until he stepped down under pressure from Mnangagwa’s allies in the army in November.

“I never thought he whom I had nurtured and brought into government and whose life I worked so hard in prison to save as he was threatened with hanging, that one day he would be the man who would turn against me,” Mugabe said in the interview with South African state broadcaster SABC from Harare.

Mnangagwa was convicted of sabotage under white minority rule and sentenced to death. But he was spared the noose because it was deemed that he was a minor when he had committed the crime.

Mugabe said he was ousted in a “military takeover” and that Mnangagwa had assumed the presidency illegally.

“I don’t hate Emmerson, I brought him into government. But he must be proper, he is improper where he is. Illegal,” Mugabe said. “We must undo this disgrace, which we have imposed on ourselves. We don’t deserve it.”

Since his fall from power, Mugabe has stayed at his Harare mansion with his wife Grace. His ousting was the culmination of a power struggle between Mnangagwa and Grace Mugabe, who was being groomed by her husband as his potential successor.

Mugabe was granted immunity from prosecution and assured that his safety will be protected in his home country under a deal that led to his resignation.

Mugabe quit as parliament began a process to impeach him, triggering wild celebrations in the streets.

Zimbabwe was once one of Africa’s most promising economies but suffered decades of decline as Mugabe pursued policies that included the violent seizure of white-owned commercial farms and money-printing that led to hyperinflation.

Mnangagwa has said Zimbabwe still wants to end discrimination between black and white farmers but will seek new ways to compensate those who have lost their properties. Former colonial ruler Britain said last month that Harare should press on with transparent and fair land reform.

Reuters

 

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Rita Akana

16.Mar.2018

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MTN Group Ltd on Thursday March 9, said it is considering investing in countries such as Cameroon, classified by the group as “conflict markets.
In a recent review on its markets across Africa and the Middle East, the mobile-phone company states that is doing a spring clean of its empire in these countries.
According to the Group Chief Financial Officer, Ralph Mupita, the company plans to take “appropriate action” if any of these countries are not cash-flow positive.

Regarding Cameroon, Mupita said MTN received a $6.6 million fine from Cameroon’s telecommunications regulator and a one-year reduction in its license term for allegedly not complying with spectrum and subscriber registration regulations.
Mupita also revealed that the company was also ordered to disconnect 3 million subscribers.“It’s a big priority to resolve this in the near term,” Mupita said. “If it’s not resolvable, then it’s not resolvable. We want to find an amicable resolution to stay.
Cameroon’s government, it would be recalled, had exhorted mobile companies including MTN, to cut internet from subscribers, in an attempt to douse protests from English speaking Cameroonians. Despite pressures from rights groups and international organisations against the ban, government remained adamant. 
Government’s shutdown of internet in English speaking Cameroon had made life extremely difficult for millions of people in the country. Citizens in dire need of internet connectivity were forced beyond endurance to hunt for the high-tech communication technology in neighbouring cities making them to be tagged as internet refugees. The Internet blackout did not only slow down businesses but shut them out with associated heavy financial losses
A coalition of rights groups monitoring internet outage recently disclosed that Cameroon lost over $2.69 million during the internet shutdown.
Internet in Anglophone Cameroon, was partially restored on April 20, 2017, after three months blackout.
MTN Cameroon FY revenue falls due to lower subscriber base
MTN Cameroon’s total revenue in 2017 decreased by 6.6 percent on an organic basis to ZAR 5.38 billion, hit by the lower subscriber base and offset by 21.1 percent growth in data and a 27.4 percent rise in digital revenue. MTN still experienced a challenging operating environment, following the data shutdown and a slowdown in economic activity, which had a material impact on subscriber and revenue growth in the year.
The business suffered a number of operational challenges, too. The subscriber base closed the year at 7.1 million, after the disconnection of approximately 3.0 million subscribers in early October 2017 to comply with regulatory requirements on subscriber registration. The company had stated 9.45 million subscribers on 30 September and 9.87 million at end-2016.
Active Mobile Money customers increased 194.2 percent to 1.1 million, with revenue up 767 percent year-on-year
By Elah Geofrey with additional reports from Journal du Cameroon

 

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Rita Akana

16.Mar.2018

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Cameroon: Ministerial conference holding today, 15th of March,2018.

It's the first ministerial conference since the last ministerial appointment and cabinet reshuffle.
It must be noted that the last cabinet reshuffle took place on the 2nd of March,2018.
President Paul Biya shall be meeting the entire cabinet of ministers at the Presidential Palace at Etoudi.
Invited to this cabinet meeting are the following according to their ministerial rankings:
The Prime Minister
Vice Prime Minister.
Ministers of state.
Ministers
Minister Delegate and secretary of States.
The meeting is scheduled for 11am and shall entirely dwell on " The special Presidential press release, being the lone agenda."
It's worth noting that the last cabinet meeting, held on the 15th of October 2015,shortly after after the previous cabinet reshuffle of 2nd October, 2015.
During this cabinet meeting, President Paul Biya overwhelmingly prescribed to the ministers " The acceleration of work towards the very highly awaited African Nations cup tournaments for both women,scheduled for 2016 and Men, schedule for 2019."
Today's cabinet meeting shall be the first cabinet meeting for those newly appointed ministers.
Those newly appointed members of government are Joseph Le, Gaston Eloundu Essomba, Elanga Obam George, Paul Tasong and Nalova Lyonga.

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Rita Akana

15.Mar.2018

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At the end of a meeting between Paul Biya and the Chinese ambassador to Cameroon, Wei Wenhua, (on March 13, 2018, in Yaoundé) it was revealed that Xi Jinping, China’s president, has invited his Cameroonian peer for a state visit in China. This will be organized in the next few days, the presidency commented.

« This new visit will highlight the good relations between China and Cameroon. It also occurs at a crucial time for China due particularly to the 13th National People’s Congress during which the country’s leadership was renewed », it added. It further disclosed that Paul Biya would be one of the first African heads of state to meet China’s newly chosen officials.

For the record, Paul Biya’s last visit to China dates back to 2011.As far as China-Cameroon relations is concerned, it dates back to 1971 and by end 2017, this country had supported Cameroon with CFA3,000 billion. These supports were namely loans and grants through various funders such as Export-Import Bank Of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank Of China, Bank Of China…etc.

BIC

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Rita Akana

15.Mar.2018

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Laurent Esso’o wants to hire 20 Anglophone Bailiffs and the conditions of eligibility include former Magistrates, former Court Registrars-in-Chief, Court Registrars and Court Registry Administrators and Lawyers with at least five years of professional experience. This kind of corruption wears a cap and whistles.

Retired Magistrates and Court Registrars are amongst the most corrupt in the Judiciary and have amassed enough wealth to buy their way into these jobs that have been ostensibly earmarked for youths, especially law graduates. How does Esso’o expect the army of unemployed law graduates (most of them bike riders) to get five years of professional experience when then have not been given the opportunity to work?

What is it about Cameroon that people don't want to go on retirement? Why bring back retired magistrates and court registrars?

Is Laurent Esso'o so dull as to be unable to figure out that the current Anglophone crisis is deeply embedded in the generational question? And come to think of it, the communique to hire Anglophones is written in French. These people have no sense of shame. As we say in pidgin, wunna dross di show...

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Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai

15.Mar.2018

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