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24.03.2015 Feature Article

Fear Grips Mbororo Community As Governor Visits

Fear Grips Mbororo Community As Governor Visits
24.03.2015 LISTEN

The Mbororo community of Mamada Hills, Bamenda, North West Cameroon almost fled their land on 20 March 2015 when Governor Adolphe Lele lafrique accompanied by Senior Divisional Officer, Felix Nguele Nguele of Mezam Division, and Divisional Officer Tarkang Ayuk of Bamenda III, visited the embattled community.

On 03 April 2014, this trio of North West administrators conspired with the Catholic Archbishop of Bamenda to violate Cameroon laws and demolish the homes of 300 Mbororo residents of Mamada hill.

Since 03 April 2014 the Mbororo have lived in fear, exposed to rain and cold and have been highly suspicious of the administration which betrayed them by violating Cameroon laws to sell their land occupied and developed since 1904.

As we report the Mbororo are still living in makeshift shacks raised from the destroyed roofing sheets from their former houses. So far, only one uncompleted building belonging to the Mbororo chief has been constructed thanks to the combined efforts of civil society organizations. Estimated to receive a compensation of FCFA 1,175,000 from the Archbishop of Bamenda, the former house of Ardo Mamada was awarded a grant of FCFA 2,000,000 by Civil Society Organizations. The building is still standing falling short of the standards of the old one demolished by Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Esua.

"I am afraid of those people. The Governor, SDO and DO of Bamenda III are the people who sold us like slaves to the Archbishop. When they come back like this, we are scared because they could have found a new buyer and have come to sell us again." Said Abiba Mairo one of the Mbororo resident at Mamada.

The administrators claim they were in Banja for a locus.

"What locus? Who organized the locus? These thieves have come to steal our land." Said Salamatou Mamada, daughter of Ardo Adamu Bi Mamada.

Whatever the motif for visiting Mamada hills, the present North west administrators compromised their integrity when they allowed caterpillars to destroy Mbororo houses. Their going back to the land without an apology for the earlier destruction is bound to torture the vulnerable ethnic minority group emotionally.

Fon Christopher Achobang
Social Commentator, Human rights activist
Land Rights Campaigner
The Cameroons
Tel, (237) 699365954
(237) 674211066

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