CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Martin Luther Mbita, Cameroon, October 1998
THEME = CORRUPTION
A German organisation "Transparency International",
has put Cameroon
at the top of the list of countries worldwide,
noted for corruption.
Cameroon's government, furious at such an accusation,
categorically denies this doubtful honour.
Transparency International's statement has already been
published in several newspapers and foreign radio broadcasts.
But, what is the truth of the matter?
"I cannot accept that Cameroon should be branded as the most corrupt country in the world. Has Transparency International ever been to Italy and seen what is happening there?" These words of an influential local politician clearly show how annoyed the powers-that-be are with Transparency International's statement. Where did this NGO get its information for such a statement, considered here to be "ridiculous". But, it's quite evident that in Cameroon, corruption is still a way of life for the people, to such an extent that it's difficult to get rid of it.
Cameroonian public opinion ascribes the increase in corruption to the rise in unemployment and the lowering of salaries for civil servants.
In fact, unemployment is widespread and mainly affects young people. When the International Labour Organisation states that out of nine million unemployed African city dwellers, three-quarters of them are between 15 and 24 years old, that surely applies to Cameroon where, on account of non-attendance at school, the need to start earning begins at 12-13 years. Thousand of youngsters are confronted by such a situation. They get involved in dangerous projects: counterfeiting bank notes, theft, corruption...
The salary scale for civil servants has fallen twice in recent years (nearly 70% in both 1993 and 1994). According to the Cameroonian authorities, this was for reasons of "structural adjustment". Doctors who earned roughly 200,000 CFA francs now only get 7,000 CFA francs, thus leading to an increase in corruption in government hospitals.
Mr.Emmanuel X is a retired teacher. After spending 20 years in government service, he decided to retire to his small village, situated about 30km from Yaoundé. Emmanuel presented his retirement pension documents to the appropriate department, without offering a bribe to those working there. Result: his documents were immediately "shelved" with no action taken. A few months later, he decided to go and see what was happening. Emmanuel learned that the employee who had received his file, had been transferred to another district; his papers had been mislaid and he had to start all over again, this time taking care to offer "some incentive" so that matters could be expedited. In the light of his previous experience, he had decided to play their game. A few months later, his file was ready and at long last, he could go and get his pension at the Yaoundé Treasury office. On that memorable day, he was full of beans that now his troubles were over, only to discover that the treasury clerk had cut 30% from his pension cheques, as a "contribution". He is entitled to 80,000 CFA francs but now only receives 50,000 CFA francs, a pathetic amount to cover all his family's needs.
How many families have lost one of their loved ones at Laquintine Hospital (the oldest and largest hospital in Douala, Cameroon's economic capital), just because they failed to "slip an envelope" to the nurse or doctor on duty? The distressing case of a young man injured in an accident and who died on 24 December 1997, at the very entrance to this famous hospital, was due to the non-payment of a "saving gesture". Indeed, food for thought! The Hypocritic Oath pronounced by those doctors and nurses at the end of their training, has indeed become a hypocritical promise. Human values are held up to ridicule, to benefit selfish interests, turning dispensaries and hospitals into anti-chambers of death.
In Cameroon, according to information received last year from several citizens of Yaoundé and Douala, the police are the most corrupt of all among the professional classes. They put road blocks right across the street. These "gangsters in uniform" target taxi and bus drivers who are obliged to "dash" them anything between 350 CFA francs (the price of a glass of beer) and 1,000 CFA francs. In Douala, it's easy to steal a car and drive right across Cameroon and then sell it somewhere else, provided you're ready to pay the 350 CFA francs at each road block.
In Douala, a 9-year-old boy was beheaded in December 1996 by foreigners who wanted to sell his head. Two senior police officers appeared in court for having backed this gruesome deed. During the trial, relatives of the accused tried to bribe the judge. Is nothing sacred?
On the social level, this all-pervading corruption leads to a lowering of moral values throughout society. The famous African solidarity, once so sensitive to the needs of others in difficulty, has been relegated to oblivion. Money is the way to get anything done.
As for the economy, many projects continue to be undermined by "economic delinquents" who are lining their own pockets in government ministries. They benefit from inside information in the administration, pertaining to projects in view or just taking place. The network covers the whole of Cameroon. Corruption permeates right through Cameroon's society. It takes in the world of business and includes both executives and clients via a network of financiers in various government ministries and the treasury department, where the "necessary funding" can be allocated without any prior checking. As a result, certain regions are deprived of any development (roads, hospitals, electricity, water installations).
Efforts to eradicate corruption in Cameroon are rendered even more complicated by the fact that it is institutionalised. Many measures have been announced by the State but no steps taken to implement them. The "fat cats" just carry on as usual without taking any notice. Some regularly get themselves elected as Members of Parliament in order to benefit from immunity. The Prime Minister, Peter Musonge, launched an anti-corruption campaign, taking several measures. But old habits die hard! The campaign has now been suspended because senior officials were implicated in the mafia.
And so, corruption continues. In its issue of 13-19 October 1957 (number 106), L'Effort Camerounais, a Catholic newspaper, expressed anxiety about the growth of corruption in Cameroon: "Corruption has become like an un-written law which nevertheless exerts power over the people who submit to it, knowing nothing can be done to improve the situation. This is a serious situation". Transparency International's classification of Cameroon as the most corrupt country in the world may perhaps give the government the necessary shot in the arm to once again launch the anti-corruption campaign - and take the appropriate measures to enforce it.
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1998 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement