Independence, not a senate stupid!
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| Reflections of a bored Prince |
Why now?
The government has of course advanced NO reasons, because NO ONE has asked the question either to the President or any one of his various creations (minsters, directors, etc.). This then leaves one with the difficult task of resorting to speculation and here of course the limit is your imagination. Biya is preparing the nation for an eventual transition, many believe. They quote the 1996 constitution, precisely the famous article...6 paragraph 4 (a) The President of the Senate shall as of right act as interim President of the Republic until the new President of the Republic is elected. Where the President of the Senate is unable to exercise these powers, the shall be exercised by his Vice, following the order of precedence. One can hear a Biya creation like Fame Ndongo exalting the genius of his Creator, Biya, for putting into a effect a law that was passed some 17 years ago! If this is the sole reason for a new senate, why has it taken 17 years? Had the President's genius abandoned him all this while or is he becoming conscious of his mortality now as an octogenarian who has systematically battered his people with failed policies? Some time later in 2013, we will speculate more on this new senate when its composition is published. My suspicion is that Mr. Biya in an attempt to placate and completely subdue a region will appoint one of theirs as the senate head. There has been some scratching of political wounds up north. The scars have fooled many, but complete healing has not happened. Ahidjo still has some loyalists in hibernation. They are not dead. Marafa and other disgraced Northerners may be fanning the cinders that may burn up the fragile fabric of the relationship between Northerners and the new Centre-South ruling class. Having a de facto and de jure successor from that region can buy Mr. Biya peace for the rest of his next thirty years in power.
How much will it cost?
It is not a secret to anyone that any structure or program created by the government must be paid for. This is the question that eluded everyone in 1996. Article 23, paragraph 3(a) All private members' bills and amendments which, if passed, would result in the reduction of public funds or in an increase of public charges without a corresponding reduction in other expenditure or the grant of equivalent new supply of funds, shall be inadmissible. Of course, this applies ONLY to "private members' bills". The President has the right to itch for what he is not prepared to scratch for. Most words written on the announcement of the new Biya toy do not raise questions or mention the provenance of the funds to run the new senate. It seems no one cares where the money will come from to pay 100 Senators, the staff of the new senate, its infrastructure, etc. The Cameroon budget of 2013 which for the first time hit the 3 trillions CFA however optimistic does not seem to take into account this new senate.
Is it necessary?
Assuming that the money to pay for the Senate does exist, it still has to pass the test of necessity. In essence, is it a priority over social programs that have always been underfunded in Cameroon? Is a Senate more important than subsidies to reduce the price of fuel hence transportation? Is a senate more important than subsidising agriculture to bring down the price of food and make it more accessible? Is it more important than affordable and adequate water and electricity? Unemployment, etc? The economic and or political benefits of a senate do not make sense. It is really perplexing why Mr. Biya needs a senate. Assuming he suddenly very concerned about his succession, he could have circumvented a senate by changing the constitution to either create a vice presidency or transfer his succession to the President of the National assembly or even the Prime Minister. In the current dispensation, almost everyone in a position of authority in the Cameroon administration is a product or creation of Mr. Biya. Even the crooks languishing in jail now are also his progeny. Ergo Mr. Biya does not need a senate for political reasons. The ONLY reason taxpayers are going to pay a heavy price for something they don't need is the same reason we have over 60 ministries in Cameroon: allegiance merchandising. Mr. Biya's ploy in keeping a seemingly peaceful nation together has been the use of posts as a panacea to any problem. There is unemployment? Creation of a Ministry of Employment. A region is agitating? Appointment of one of theirs in a "strategic" post. The term "post" allied to either greed or hunger has pacified Cameroon's opposition and ripped the nation of any other way of viewing things but from the dictator's angle.
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| Le Cameroun des grands fardeaux |
Of the burdens that Cameroonians have to face: unemployment, 30+years of dictatorship, China, France, an incompetent and absent legislature, a partisan judiciary, corruption, inadequate infrastructure... one must now add a obsolete and redundant senate. The level of bureaucracy will increase, the number of authorities who can now speak for the people (without consulting them) will increase in each province by 10, the level of intrigue will be heightened, new enmities will be created, more annoying motions of support will follow, and Mr. Biya's incompetence will benefit from less internal scrutiny, not that one has ever mattered.
If it must be...
If we must have a senate, then I would have proposed that we reduce the size of other structures in accordance to art. 23, 3 (a), beginning with the national assembly. The only thing more annoying than having an incompetent bunch of hand clappers incapable of proposing and passing any law is having 180 of them. 150 is still a lot, but manageable. Or, maybe, reduce the number of ministries from over 60 to less than 30 for a start. 20 is just about enough. Cut corruption breeding grounds like ENAM, IRIC, and other such schools that have outlived the purpose of their creation, but continue to drain state funds. There are lots of other structures that could be scaled down to make room for a new senate that in my opinion should be made up of 50 senators at the most and elected by the people.
Independent regions
Instead of a senate, Cameroon will be better served by a completely independent local government that begins with governors of regions voted by that region and not imposed by Yaounde. These governors should be in charge of education, police and many other social programs that administrative bottlenecks and thick layers of corruption have kept away from the local population. Governors will think twice before proffering threats like the one recently made by the SW governor to UB students. He can because he owes nothing to ANYONE in the SW Region. His only allegiance is to his creator, and not the One you are thinking about. The regions should be made up of regional councils (or similar structures) headed by executives who are elected by that local community. With strong regional sentiments, it is very likely the needs of their people will prevail even in national debates. This could be a cure for corruption and the beginning of better management of resources. If employees are hired by local governments, vacancies will be easily noticed and they could be filled immediately.
A decentralized nation exists only on paper and sporadic mention in speeches. Article 1 paragraph 2 (The Republic of Cameroon shall be a decentralized unitary State.) has redefined the word decentralized to mean an Almighty President and irrelevant vassals. Those who disagree should explain to us why governors, mayors in their backyards are still appointed by the President.
In Memoriam
Article 6 (1996 Constitution)(2) The President of the Republic shall be elected for a term of office of 7 (seven) years. He shall be
eligible for re-election once.
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