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00:00 More than 7 million Cameroonians enroll on voters list two months before registration
00:21 ends.
00:22 Why is this exercise slow and what role can political parties play to speed voter registration?
00:28 Find out in this edition of the 7.30 News.
00:31 Over 203,000 candidates registered for the French subsystem of education, Probatoire,
00:40 that began sitting in 2023 this Monday.
00:44 Reports from accommodation centers across the country indicate that day one of the examination
00:49 was hitch-free.
00:50 Plus, sports funders call for a review and complete restructuring of Cameroon's cycling
00:55 team as cyclists end this year's international cycling tour without winning a single lap.
01:01 Right ahead, the 7.30 News examines reasons for this dismal performance.
01:06 And those are top stories.
01:08 Good evening and thanks for joining us on this edition of the 7.30 News.
01:11 I'm Gladys Datta.
01:14 Cameroonians have barely two months to have their names enrolled on electoral lists to
01:18 be able to take part in future elections.
01:21 Since registration was launched in January, a little over 7 million people have enrolled
01:25 themselves, up from about 6.5 million last year.
01:29 What is the atmosphere at voter registration centers two months to the closure of electoral
01:34 lists?
01:35 Beatrice Ngcum has been finding out and reports that there is no affluence yet.
01:42 This is the Elekam branch office in Yaounde 1.
01:45 The staff is on seat.
01:47 Pass registration material is set, but enrollment is slow.
01:52 At the Elekam regional office, same atmosphere prevails.
01:56 All is calm.
01:57 No official is willing to talk.
01:59 But off-camera, we are told two months to the wrap of the electoral process, Elekam
02:04 teams have been deployed on some major road junctions to woo Cameroonians to enroll on
02:10 the electoral list.
02:12 The youth need to start participating to the development of the country.
02:16 A better life for all Cameroonians starts with the ballot.
02:21 Officials of the elections management body reached by phone declare over 7 million Cameroonians
02:27 have already enrolled nationwide.
02:28 We are still sensitizing the most important groups, the youth, women and even persons
02:33 with disabilities.
02:34 This will permit us to be optimistic with the figures we will release soon.
02:38 For now we are at over 7 million.
02:40 The figures are increasing.
02:41 For the first quarter of 2023, 103,220 persons have enrolled, amongst which 37,856 are women,
02:53 75,582 are young people and 124 are persons with disabilities.
03:01 To ramp up voters registration, Elekam is using digital campaigns to sensitize Cameroonians
03:07 on the electoral process.
03:11 Political parties are the main beneficiaries in the electoral process as elections constitute
03:16 the gateway to power in a democracy.
03:19 They should therefore be actively mobilizing potential voters to enroll on electoral registers
03:24 all over the country.
03:25 In the report that follows, Prince William Aduma sizes up the level of involvement of
03:31 political parties and civil society organizations in the voter registration process that ends
03:36 on August 31.
03:38 A little over two months to closure of the electoral register, the Mokolo market fills
03:46 in 97 names in one week, updating the list of potential voters for the 14th subsection
03:52 of the CPDM in Yaounde 2.
03:55 You cannot even find time to do that now.
03:57 Getting up early and going home late, so you are coming to register us, is very helpful.
04:04 Over in Yaounde 5, the totality of the PCRN, CRM and CPDM Endeavor scales up percentage
04:12 to 95 of the targeted 22,000 earmarked for registration.
04:18 Those registered are potential voters for respective political parties.
04:21 That's why we emphasize that registration be done at the level of each subdivision.
04:29 In Mokolo in the far north, like other parts of the country, increase in registration is
04:34 proof of civil society and political party commitment.
04:39 I go out twice each week and get over 30 to 40 persons registered in each location.
04:46 Last year I registered 557 persons.
04:49 This year I am at about 465 now.
04:56 Actually any good citizen must take part in civic activities.
05:00 We have however observed that youths who constitute the majority of the population are not fairly
05:05 represented in the electoral process.
05:08 Reason why we have engaged to get them on board.
05:12 August 31st, not too far for political parties who know how to base their aspirations on
05:19 duly registered supporters.
05:22 The elections management body, ELECAM, has two major challenges.
05:26 The first is to replace enrollment kits which have become obsolete while the second is to
05:32 relaunch voter registration of Cameroonians in the diaspora.
05:35 Ebneza Kangabosade, ELECAM, head of ACI in the nation's capital, reports that plans
05:40 are afoot for the challenges to be addressed.
05:45 The enrollment kits which ELECAM is using were acquired way back in 2012.
05:51 More than 10 years after, they have become obsolete and are no longer performant.
05:57 Moreover, the machine that prints voter's cards, called PESLIN, is also obsolete and
06:03 is no longer functioning optimally.
06:06 Because the enrollment kits and printing machine are obsolete, the registration process and
06:11 printing of voter's cards has become slow.
06:15 A reliable source at the Directorate General of Elections has however given assurance that
06:20 measures have been taken to replace the enrollment kits.
06:25 One thousand of them will be replaced in the coming months.
06:28 The same source says the government has disbursed the sum of four billion CFRs to acquire a
06:34 new machine used in printing voter's cards.
06:38 The machine will be acquired before the end of this year.
06:42 As for registration of voters in the diaspora which has been suspended, it will be relaunched
06:47 later.
06:48 ELECAM has initiated a project to acquire tablets which will make enrollment in the
06:54 diaspora less cumbersome.
06:57 Today June 12 marks exactly 10 years since Masegna Njifengi was elected as the first
07:04 ever President of Cameroon's Upper House of Parliament, the Senate.
07:08 The choice of Senator Masegna Njifengi to lead the Senate when it officially swung into
07:13 action in 2013 took Panea's Senators by surprise when announced at the House Chamber
07:18 by the then President of the CPDM Parliamentary Group, Peter Mfani Musonge.
07:23 How successful has Senator Masegna Njifengi managed Cameroon's Upper House of Parliament
07:29 in a context of political pluralism?
07:32 That is what Sidoni Jommandi has been finding out for this newscast.
07:38 The journey of Masegna Njifengi as President of the Senate started on the 12th of June
07:44 2013 and today June 12, 2023 marks exactly 10 years when the President of the CPDM Parliamentary
07:52 Group, at the time Peter Mfani Musonge, proposed the candidacy of Masegna Njifengi.
07:59 This was the first ever elective plenary sitting of the Senate.
08:04 To me it is a record and it is also recorded that Senator Njifengi put in enormous contribution
08:19 in a well-merited career at the Senate.
08:23 So we can conclude by saying it is an accomplished mission.
08:28 His election as Senate President follows a rich and fruitful political career full of
08:34 experiences.
08:35 He started the Senate from scratch.
08:37 The personnel of the Senate, the structure of the Senate and everything about the Senate
08:43 has been done during the mandate of President Njeti.
08:47 He has courageously kept moving the Senate of Cameroon.
08:53 In 10 years of its existence, the Senate has already adopted more than 200 bills enacted
08:59 by the President of the Republic and which have contributed in promoting good governance,
09:05 the management of public finances as well as other issues affecting everyday lives of
09:11 Cameroonians.
09:14 The bill to institute the Charter on Child Online Protection has been examined by the
09:18 Committee on Social Affairs of the National Assembly, defended by the Minister of Post
09:22 and Telecommunication.
09:24 This was preceded by the scrutiny of two bills by the Foreign Affairs Committee.
09:29 They relate to a transport service agreement between Cameroon and Algeria as well as a
09:34 cooperation accord between Cameroon and Uruguay.
09:37 Esther Kima has details of today's work at the National Assembly.
09:42 An agreement to establish air transport services between Cameroon and Algeria, endorsed for
09:48 ratification by the Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Honorable Emmanuel Bagmy, the Executive
09:54 is clear on its benefits.
09:57 Accepting the opportunities offered to Cameroon's national carrier, Cameco, Transport Minister
10:02 Jean-Yenès Massé Nangale-Bébe singled out as important the civil aviation safety and
10:08 security guarantee as well as customs duties and taxes cutbacks, profitable to both countries.
10:15 As for the framework cooperation agreements between Cameroon and Uruguay signed in 2022,
10:20 External Relations Minister Mbila Mbila outlined that the rule advanced investment projects
10:25 and exchange in agriculture, with Uruguay being amongst the world's leading agricultural
10:31 producers.
10:32 "It's a relationship in terms of economy, agriculture, trade and also in terms of human
10:41 resources exchanges.
10:43 What is going to change is that after the ratification by the head of state of this
10:49 draft project, the Uruguayan parliamentary members are coming to meet the parliamentarian
10:56 in order to evaluate where we should start."
11:00 To protect children against cyberspace predators, a child online protection charter was scrutinized
11:06 by the Social Affairs Committee, led by Honorable Duvaiwisa Ayisa.
11:11 For governments, the legal instrument addresses cybercrimes targeting children below 18.
11:16 "This law is very important because it will give a possibility to the government to have
11:21 an instrument that can help to prevent and even to eradicate all forms of abuse on child
11:30 online."
11:31 The 49 section bill provides for child awareness raising plans and the establishment of child
11:37 cyberspace access systems.
11:40 Blood donation campaigns are multiplying all over Cameroon as the country prepares to observe
11:45 World Blood Donor Day on June 14.
11:48 The day will be observed at a time when the country is struggling to fill an annual national
11:53 deficit of 400,000 pints of blood.
11:56 What accounts for the low rate of blood donation in hospitals across Cameroon?
12:03 It's another busy day at the Chantal Bia Foundation and among the patients and users is Rachel.
12:13 Panicky, Rachel has a six-month-old baby urgently in need of a blood transfusion.
12:19 After meeting the head of the blood station of the foundation, to whom she hands the order
12:23 for blood from the emergency unit of the health facility, Rachel is reassured.
12:40 Pints of blood are available but before she receives one, she is told to get donors.
12:44 Pay minimal amounts for a lab test to ensure that the blood she collects is compatible
12:50 with that of her baby.
12:51 A process that takes less than 30 minutes and despite the absence of donors, she receives
12:57 much needed blood for her baby in a hospital where the needs are enormous.
13:02 "Anemia among children is too much, it's too prevalent, especially around their own.
13:08 There are days where we have eight transfusions, nine transfusions in young babies."
13:13 At the Yawende Military Hospital, the needs are just as huge.
13:16 "Like you see we have two donors.
13:19 First is the volunteer donors and the second is the family donors.
13:24 The difficulty we have is to collect more volunteer donors."
13:30 Through mobile campaigns, the raising of awareness and other health-related incentives, medics
13:35 in Cameroon are on a blood drive to galvanize Cameroonians to donate blood spontaneously.
13:43 Patients suffering from kidney infections in the East Region are expressing gratitude
13:47 to President Paul Biya for reducing the cost of hemodialysis from 48,000 to 15,000 CFE
13:53 francs annually.
13:54 The East Regional Delegate for Public Health, Dr. Youssef Prosper Isola, on a visit to the
13:59 centre reassured patients of the President's determination, through the universal health
14:03 coverage, to provide quality and affordable health care to Cameroonians.
14:07 Details with Pierre Saar.
14:09 Irene, a patient suffering from kidney failure, we met at the Bertois Hemodialysis Centre,
14:17 is one of the numerous in the East Region who have welcomed the reduction of the annual
14:22 cost from 480,000 francs to just 15,000 francs a year.
14:27 We are thankful, very grateful for this cost because it is really helping some of us because
14:36 there are many of us here that our family cannot even raise the 5,000 a day.
14:41 The East Regional Delegate of Public Health, during a visit to the centre to evaluate the
14:46 effective implementation of this new development, reassured the patients that the universal
14:51 health coverage is an initiative undertaken by the head of state to provide quality and
14:56 affordable health care to all.
14:58 We are here in the regional hospital and we can see that all the patients benefit from
15:07 the exemption of the cost.
15:09 This landmark development will go a long way to relieve patients suffering from this terminal
15:15 disease from some financial constraints.
15:18 Yes, as you just said it, Pierre Saar, the reduction is from 480,000 CFE francs to 15,000
15:26 CFE francs annually.
15:28 Food and nutrition experts in the crisis-prone Northwest Region say thousands of children
15:33 are malnourished.
15:34 They were speaking during a food safety and nutrition event in Bui Division in the presence
15:39 of COAX Veronica Adjei reports that Nesense Solutions, an American-based NGO, organized
15:45 the event.
15:48 In Cameroon, several children from 6 to 59 months suffer from anemia due to iron deficiency
15:55 caused by malnutrition.
15:57 To combat malnutrition, some volunteer school cooks from the six subdivisions in Bui Division
16:03 prepared varied balanced dishes in a competition aimed at sensitizing the population on the
16:09 importance of consuming a balanced diet.
16:12 To sensitize the population on balanced diet and hygiene.
16:17 And as a spillover effect, the community at large is going to benefit so as to improve
16:22 on their nutritional status.
16:25 The two-hour competition, dubbed School Canteen Project, organized by Nesense Solutions, an
16:30 American non-governmental organization, included a quiz to test the knowledge of participants
16:36 on some key issues.
16:37 It should not end at this level.
16:40 It should continue so that many will come to show their talents as we did.
16:45 Then subdivision won the first best regional nutrition school, followed by a Kumbu and
16:51 Oko.
16:52 Grinding meals and food items were handed to winners to keep on with the School Canteen
16:57 Project providing balanced diets to pupils.
17:02 And as you heard in one of our latest stories, over 203,000 students have begun sitting the
17:07 Probatoire General Examination of the French subsystem of education in Cameroon.
17:12 Reports from centers across the country indicate that but for several dozen absences recorded,
17:18 the examination commenced H-3.
17:21 Cynthia Saptola visited some accommodation centers today in Yaoundé.
17:26 First day of the Probatoire General and the ambiance at this accommodation center in Yaoundé
17:32 is serene.
17:33 Over 600 students are expected here.
17:37 Only candidates writing French and history this Monday showed up for the routine check
17:42 at the entry.
17:43 8 a.m. the bell marks the start of the exam.
17:46 No noise is allowed in the examination hall.
17:49 Students have about three hours to respond to questions in French literature.
17:53 They had three subjects to write today.
17:56 They had to finish with history in the afternoon.
17:59 We have got 13 schools who are writing in our campus.
18:05 Same observation at the Lycée d'Anguissa.
18:07 It is the accommodation center for nine schools plus three candidates and school authorities
18:13 say security has been reinforced for the smooth running of the exams.
18:18 Among the 787 candidates that were registered, we have 52 absences.
18:25 We have one candidate from the Central Prison.
18:28 For the next five days, candidates will have to prove their mastery of subjects in order
18:32 to hopefully write the baccalaureate examination next academic year.
18:39 Officials in the Ministry of Environment and those of waste management companies are brainstorming
18:45 on ways to sustainably manage hazardous waste in the country.
18:48 This was during a consultation meeting which focused on establishing a national waste stock
18:53 exchange.
18:55 Environment protection and protection of nature and sustainable development minister, LAPR,
18:59 chaired the meeting as we hear in this report, courtesy Gerard Nanje.
19:06 The management of waste in Cameroon, like in most sub-Saharan African countries, is
19:12 said to be generally limited to collection with less than 15% recycled.
19:19 The production of household waste, according to a 2015 assessment, stands at approximately
19:25 2.5 million tons per year.
19:28 This consultative meeting seeks to mobilize stakeholders to design and implement an operational
19:35 platform for the collection, treatment and processing of hazardous waste.
19:41 Those who have waste must let those who need waste know where they are, which type of waste
19:50 they have.
19:51 This will probably have a double effect on sanitation, on the quality of life and on
19:57 the economy because these are new jobs.
20:00 The Minister of the Environment, Hele Pierre, while chairing the session, affirmed that
20:06 the initiative falls in line with the National Development Strategy 2020-2030.
20:15 Elites of the Nyanga and Fumu Division have strongly condemned hate speech, xenophobia
20:19 and tribalism.
20:21 This was during an evaluation meeting in Majek village, some 22km from Akonolinga centre
20:26 region.
20:27 Sidonie Jobmandi tells us more.
20:31 [Music]
20:36 It is at the St. Peter Parish of Majek, one of the oldest in the Nyanga and Fumu Division,
20:42 that Senator Ruben Kili, together with other political elites of the locality, decided
20:47 to offer thanksgiving to glorify God for his appointment as Senator and Vice President
20:53 in the Upper House of Parliament.
20:55 We all believe in God's here, so whatever we do, we first of all have to thank him,
21:00 then ask him to be with us in all that we are going to do.
21:04 Elites of the locality as well as CPDM supporters of the Nyanga and Fumu South also came together
21:10 to evaluate activities carried out two weeks ago during the mega meeting organised in Akonolinga
21:16 to thank President Paul Bir for his confidence conferred on the son of the soil.
21:21 In 2025, you know that we are going to have the presidential elections, legislative and
21:25 municipal elections, so our division, the Nyanga and Fumu Division, wants to get ready.
21:29 In his closing speech, Senator Ruben Kili also called on all Cameroonians, especially
21:34 natives of the Nyanga and Fumu Division, to be great promoters of peace and national unity
21:40 in Cameroon.
21:42 Some 600 Cameroonians out of the over 4,000 expected this year for the pilgrimage in Saudi
21:48 Arabia have arrived in the city of Medina.
21:51 Cameroon's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Eya Tijani, commended the precautions taken by
21:57 the National Heritage Commission to ensure a safe trip to the Holy Land.
22:01 Details with Maimou Nanjouya.
22:03 The group of pilgrims who left the Garwa International Airport early this Monday arrived
22:11 the city of Medina at 7.43am Cameroon time. The slightly over five hour flight was safe
22:19 and swift for those who are set to fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam, the Hajj.
22:24 While welcoming some pilgrims, Cameroon's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia expressed relief
22:40 with regards to the measures taken by the National Heritage Commission.
22:44 Besides the 600 Cameroonian pilgrims who have arrived in Medina, other flights have been
23:02 booked for tonight and tomorrow from Garwa and Douala respectively.
23:08 Cameroonian cyclists finished this year's International Cycling Tour of Cameroon without
23:14 winning a single lap. The poor result has been attributed to improper preparations and
23:19 also the ageing nature of Cameroon's athletes who are no longer productive.
23:23 Former cyclists and sports experts say it's time to review the team for future competitions
23:29 as you tell us, Romion Kenyi, in the following report.
23:34 The 19th International Cycling Tour of Cameroon has been more or less a safari tour for Cameroonian
23:39 cyclists, missing out at every lap. Curiously, like in past editions, hopes were pinned on
23:46 SNH Viro Club ageing Clovis, Camzong, Abusolo and Maid.
23:49 We started the preparations very late. Our poor performance can also be attributed to
23:56 the fact that our regional leagues are not active. However, it's worth noting that there
24:01 is need for more sponsors in order to have a race with good quality competitors.
24:07 To have bicycles of high standard is very expensive. Sometimes we are obliged to ask
24:27 foreign competitors to help us with bicycles.
24:31 From Garua to Kribi, passing through Chang'e, then Yaounde, the race witnesses intermittent
24:38 technical fault in organization.
24:41 Our cyclists cannot partake in Tour de France and Tour of Rwanda because those competitions
24:49 are meant for professionals and there are a lot of stakes involved.
24:54 We have to take them. Tropical Nisabungu, we can participate.
24:57 This year's International Cycling Tour of Cameroon has come and gone with its good and
25:02 ugly sides unveiled. However, the Cycling Federation is poised correcting the wrongs during the
25:09 forthcoming Grand Prix Shantabia, which is another great moment of cycling in the country.
25:14 One of Cameroon's leading mobile telephone companies, MTN, is again reaching out with
25:21 its services and financial gains for its clients. Five of its lucky customers began receiving
25:27 monthly payments of 100,000 CFE francs each this month. They were selected through a raffle
25:32 draw for using MTN mobile money services. Details with Cynthia Aitem in CLTV Little World.
25:38 Champagne sparked as joy overflowed for the first five lucky winners of the Momo Lida
25:49 campaign. Their stories are alike and henceforth their status have changed to fame. They are
25:56 now earners of 100,000 CFE francs each for 12 months thanks to the MTN Momo service.
26:04 I just saw an adjustment of 100,000 francs as the winner of the Momo 100,000 francs
26:12 per month. That's when I believed that it was reality. I feel so happy and I want to
26:19 thank MTN for the offer. This move is another milestone by MTN Cameroon to fight against
26:26 the high cost of living and improve the lives of their customers. The Momo Lida campaign
26:32 is a genuine one. These winners, we will have 90 of them like that and on top of them we
26:39 will have winners on a daily basis who can get reimbursed up to 25,000 francs if they
26:47 do a transaction with the Momo app or if they do a transaction from 2,000 francs we can
26:53 give you a loan of up to 100,000 francs and you will get 0% interest free for the first
27:01 three days. If you reimburse within two weeks it is 7.5% and if you reimburse within a month
27:08 it is 15%. The event at the Sandaga market in Douala booed and shocked all lookers who
27:15 came to also get ample information of how the Momo service works. Meanwhile, some five
27:22 business persons in the Sandaga market who for some time now have been receiving payments
27:27 from buyers through the MTN Mobile Money service were rewarded 55 inches flat screen TV set,
27:34 umbrellas and other gadgets. Mobile Money is positioning itself to support Cameroonians
27:41 through the Momo Lida campaign and we will be making even more lucky winners.
27:48 It's here ladies and gentlemen that we draw the curtains on this edition of the 7thest
27:53 news. Thanks for watching. In under 30 minutes you'll be in the company of Adel Mbala for