Society

Zacchaeus Mungwe Forjindam has to wait a little longer to know his fate in one of his two appeals at the Supreme Court in Yaounde. The former General Manager of the Cameroon Shipyard and Industrial Engineering was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Littoral Court of Appeal in 2012 for embezzling about 350 million FCFA. A seven-judge jury from the Specialised Bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, announced the removal of the matter from its rooster, promising to notify Forjindam and counsel of the next hearing “in the coming days.” Forjindam was present in court, accompanied by a host of family members. 

Mr. Justice Mvondo Evezo’o, President of the Specialised Bench, who announced the adjournment, did not however give any reasons. Reacting to the ruling, Barristers Baombe Paul and Djoubairou Ousmanou, both counsel for Forjindam, expressed disappointment, saying they have been waiting for a decision since filing the appeal in 2012. They recalled that the matter was called for the first time in 2013 and later removed from the rooster because the court needed time to study the appeal before making its decision. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus Mungwe Forjindam faces at least two other corruption trials at the Supreme Court, including an appeal against another conviction.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

21.Jan.2016

Hits: 1000

A nine-month-old baby was on January 19, 2016, crushed by a vehicle on the Douala- Edea highway. The baby reportedly fell off the mother’s back on a fast-moving motorbike and was crushed by a car following closely behind. 

The inconsolable mother, according to eye witness, did not fasten the child well enough, coupled with the high speed of the motorbike.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

21.Jan.2016

Hits: 1026

The teaching and learning of Mathematics in Secondary schools in Cameroon will henceforth take a different dimension following the signing of a partnership agreement between the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in collaboration with MasterCard Foundation and the Ministry of Higher Education on the one hand and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Minister of Secondary Education on the other. It paves the way for a five-year pilot programme to see the light of the day. The main objective of the programme launched on January 19, 2016, at the Amphi Theatre of the Higher Teachers’ Training College (ENS) Yaounde by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang, is to improve the quality of teaching and learning of Mathematics in Cameroonian secondary schools. The AIMS MasterCard Foundation Mathematics Teacher Training Programme (TTP) envisages the training of 1, 900 in-service teachers, 1, 200 pre-service mathematics teachers and 50 trainers of trainers with an expected student outreach of 1.7 million across the ten regions of the country. 

Apart from enhancing the quality of pedagogy of Mathematics teachers, the programme seeks to step up the interest for Mathematics by secondary school students who consequently would consider pursuing careers in Mathematical Sciences. Ministers Jacques Fame Ndongo of Higher Education, Jean Ernest Ngalle Bibehe Massena of Secondary Education and the President, Chief Executive Officer of AIMS, Thierry Zomahoun appended signatures on the documents with a common goal of promoting and enhancing the teaching and learning of the subject described as a backbone to economic growth and national development. The major components of the programme include enhancing pedagogic competences of all Mathematics lecturers in Higher Teachers Training Colleges of Maroua, Yaounde, Bambili and the HTTTC Kumba. The programme will also ensure an updated, innovative, gender sensitive and relevant curriculum development while creating a community of practice for maths teachers across the country amongst others. The expected outcome of the programme is to increase the transition rates between educational level.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

21.Jan.2016

Hits: 1166

President Biya has appointed Retired Colonel Donatien Melingui Nouma as head of the military headquarters in Yaounde for a 3 years term. Cameroon Concord gathered that the Biya regime recognized him as a "good soldier" and having "a sense of duty". Colonel Donatien Melingui went on retirement at 58. However, the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces has the authority to promote retired civil servants including servicemen and women to administrative duties. 

Colonel Melingui started receiving his retirement benefits on December 14, 2015. His kinsman signed a presidential decree on January 4, 2016 appointing him to command Quartier Generale just two weeks after his retirement. Some informed opinions have hinted that Biya intends to have absolute control of the military headquarters to avoid any army intervention in case of anticipated upheavals in the 2018 presidential elections.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

21.Jan.2016

Hits: 1568

Zacchaeus Mungwe Forjindam has to wait a little longer to know his fate in one of his two appeals at the Supreme Court in Yaounde. The former General Manager of the Cameroon Shipyard and Industrial Engineering was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Littoral Court of Appeal in 2012 for embezzling about 350 million FCFA. A seven-judge jury from the Specialised Bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, announced the removal of the matter from its rooster, promising to notify Forjindam and counsel of the next hearing “in the coming days.” Forjindam was present in court, accompanied by a host of family members. 

Mr. Justice Mvondo Evezo’o, President of the Specialised Bench, who announced the adjournment, did not however give any reasons. Reacting to the ruling, Barristers Baombe Paul and Djoubairou Ousmanou, both counsel for Forjindam, expressed disappointment, saying they have been waiting for a decision since filing the appeal in 2012. They recalled that the matter was called for the first time in 2013 and later removed from the rooster because the court needed time to study the appeal before making its decision. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus Mungwe Forjindam faces at least two other corruption trials at the Supreme Court, including an appeal against another conviction.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

21.Jan.2016

Hits: 1103

A nine-month-old baby was on January 19, 2016, crushed by a vehicle on the Douala- Edea highway. The baby reportedly fell off the mother’s back on a fast-moving motorbike and was crushed by a car following closely behind. 

The inconsolable mother, according to eye witness, did not fasten the child well enough, coupled with the high speed of the motorbike.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

21.Jan.2016

Hits: 993