CPDM section presidents are bosses over newly appointed divisional coordinators-Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, CPDM Kupe Muanenguba divisional coordinator

It has been a subject of contentious debate ever since pioneer CPDM divisional coordinators were appointed as to who is in command at the base. Even the party text creating regional and divisional delegations is equivocal as to the responsibilities of the new appointees.

While critics hold that the appointment of the delegates remains a deliberate attempt by the National chairman of the party to create division and confusion within the party, the position of delegates, CPDM authorities insist has come to add a fresh impetus to a party they claim has grown by lips and bounds. In an attempt to clarify these issues and many others, The Cameroon Watch contacted, Professor Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, former forestry and Wildlife Minister who is also pioneer coordinator of the newly created CPDM National Academy for clarifications. He spoke to Mua Patrick Mughe in Yaounde....read on

Over the years, CPDM section presidents have been in command at the base, managing the day to day activities of the party. But recently regional and divisional delegates were appointed by the national chairman of the party but its seems the appointment of the new officials has come to create more confusion in the party. In the first place was there a need for the creation of regional and divisional delegates?

Well, following the message that the secretary general of the party passed out during his first lap of his regional tour in the Grand North, he did clearly state that from a managerial and logical standpoint, he noted that the CPDM party has grown exponentially and that the national chairman was conscious of this growth. Inherent in this growth, what has been observed is that there have been instances of excessive, abusive behaviour on the part of certain militants and that since these abusive behaviours cannot be tolerated by any party especially a party that is in power such as the CPDM, the national president thought it necessary that in keeping with his philosophy of democracy and freedom that the party should be modernised. And so for that party to be modern and run as a modern party, the national president thought that it was necessary to introduce managerial elements or structures which were to be like an addition or support to existing structures that are provided for by the text and so permanent regional and divisional delegations were what the national president came up with. These delegations are permanent which is a sharp contrast of what we used to call ad-hoc resource persons who went out once in a while to accompany the leaders at the base but base on the experiences of that former dispensation, the new structures are more permanent and their job was to play an advisory role and accompany the leaders at the base so that they can be better managers with the powers that they have been given.

So Professor Elvis Ngolle Ngolle can you kindly explain to us what exactly are the functions of these regional and divisional delegates?

While installing the various regional and divisional delegations in the three northern regions, the secretary general of the CPDM insisted that these personalities have a very important role to play. He said their role does not include and extend to the following things; that the regional and divisional delegations are not there to reduce the powers of the elected section presidents and members of their bureaus. He said the section presidents and their bureaus remain intact and they are not reduced by the creation and installation of the members of the regional and divisional delegations. The second thing he said is that these regional and divisional delegations were not there to obstruct or to delay the day-today actions and powers of the section presidents. So the section presidents and their bureaux still have the full powers as given by the text inspire of the creation of the divisional and regional delegations to act as the political bosses of their various sections. They are the patrons.  He also said that the regional and divisional delegations that have been put in place by the national president were they now to play an advisory, complimentary function and that their functions were three fold; one to ensure the unity of action of the party within the region and within the division respectively. Two, to ensure that these political bosses in the various sections in each division had the accompanying support so that they can be better managers in their various sections. Thirdly, he said that their mission was to ensure that these local bosses meaning section presidents in Carrying out their daily activities, there is a follow up in the way they implement the instruments from the hierarchy. So the role of these permanent delegations is that of advisory, consultative but at the same time, supportive and monitoring. This is a plus from the management stand point of the party so that whatever problem that happens at the base, there is a permanent structure to make sure those problems can find solutions instantly. That way, a branch, sub section or section president will not have to write a petition to Yaounde in order to have a solution to a problem.

So if we got you well, what you have been saying is that section presidents remains the bosses at the base because section presidents seem to be at loggerheads with the delegates?

Yes, anyone who wants to be at loggerheads with the section presidents is misreading the spirit and the letter creating and appointing members of these delegations because it is very clear even in the text itself that these regional and divisional delegations are not there to boss the political bosses; the political bosses are the section presidents within their sections but the national president in his own managerial and philosophical vision of the party has seen that in order to make the party more modern  and strong thought it wise that support structures  be put in place. Those who are misreading the text are the ones that will create problems with the section presidents. There is not supposed to be any conflict. The delegates have to be modest enough in order to make the section presidents who are their bosses their companions.

Now, Prof , is there a possibility for someone who is a member of the permanent delegation to vie for elections at the level of the party say for the post of section in future elections?

Well, so far, the text creating the new structures, be it at the regional or divisional level did not indicate that members of the various delegations are barred from contesting elections within the party. For now, there is no text which talks of incompatibility from what I know. What I know is that the delegations are structures in addition to the existing structures.

There seem not to be any mandate for these appointed officials, is it that they are supposed to be there for life?

(Laughs...) appointments are based on the discretion of the man who appoints you, so in this case, it is just like any other appointment be it at the level of the state or the at the level of the private sector. He who appoints knows best how long the mandate is going to last.

Some months back, you were appointed the boss inc charge of the newly created CPDM National academy but ever since you were appointed , it seem as if you have gone into slumber, nothing is said of the academy again.

Ngolle Ngolle Elvis

No, No, as you know the academy is a pedagogic instrument which the national president of our party holds onto very dearly but as you know it is the case with all pedagogic instruments that it takes time for the structure to be set up. I was privilege to have been appointed at the helm of this structure. Since the appointment, our team has been working to create, elaborate and develop the curriculum. This is what we have been doing for the last month. The programme for studies is already being prepared. Our trainings will take the format of seminars because the academy is not a structure to dish out certificates or diplomas, it is a structure to disseminate general education about the political society so that citizens who are militants of our party can benefit. We will train militants at the level of the central or national level and then we will move to the regions. The secretary general has announced that as soon he finishes installing these delegates, the Academy’s activities will kick -off.

You seem to be putting on so many caps at the same time, recently, you were also appointed CPDM divisional delegate for Kupe Muanenguba which is a political hotspot in the south west region, just how are you prepare for this new challenge

I think the secretary General made it easy for us when he said in Maroua, Garoua and Ngoundere that we are not suppose to be enemies in the house. Amongst ourselves, we have to work as one. We might have differences but because of the party, we have to work as one. We have to work as a fraternity, as one team. Team spirit must prevail because we belong to the same house.