The 7:30pmNews of August 27, 2024
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00:00In just three days, voters' registers will close in Cameroon, ending an eight-month operation
00:25that has so far received favourable actions and reactions from across the national territory.
00:35Cameroon's Ministry of Finance uncovers a massive fraud in fake birth certificates
00:42and undue pension earnings, estimated at more than 35 billion CFA francs,
00:48all of them perpetrated by police and soldier retirees. And six people, all of them of the
00:56same family, die of food poisoning in Dimako, in the eastern region, with two others still
01:04lying under critical condition in hospitals. Those are our lead stories.
01:11My name is Ben Menopoufong. Welcome to the programme.
01:17The 7.30 open streets at the Star Building, where the president of the French media group
01:22Canal Plus International has expressed the desire of his enterprise to invest in more
01:30content production in Cameroon. Jacques Dupuy was speaking in Yaoundé today after an audience
01:39with Prime Minister Joseph Diangute, the prime minister who also held talks with traditional
01:45rulers from the Kupemo-Niguba division of the southwest region. Christian Chiatam
01:51with details from the Star Building.
01:56Goodbye, some say, is a chance to express gratitude for friendship and support.
02:01This was very much the case when the prime minister of government received the outgoing
02:06resident UN coordinator at interim for one final audience. Joseph Diangute and Siaka Kulibali
02:14counted the work done by the UN system in collaboration with the government.
02:23Of our contribution toward the achievement of the national development priorities,
02:30the dialogue politics structure, and that was focused on environment and climate change.
02:37On the social side, the health education and also our support to the humanitarian response plan.
02:46From one farewell to another, with yet the same sense of fulfilment, the audience which
02:51the prime minister of government, Joseph Diangute, accorded the outgoing Swiss ambassador to Cameroon
02:57was equally a time to count the fruits of good collaboration.
03:01In the area of health, but also in culture, we did some activities and I also wanted to
03:08pave the way for Swiss companies to come here to be active in this country, which has a lot of potential.
03:15Be it the outgoing resident UN coordinator Siaka Kulibali or the outgoing Swiss ambassador to Cameroon,
03:21Martin Stroop both expressed the hope that their replacements will continue
03:26fostering fruitful collaboration with the government of Cameroon.
03:32And Cameroon's minister of public health is in Brazzaville, Congo, where he is leading the
03:39Cameroonian delegation to the 74th session of the regional committee of the WHO for Africa.
03:48The four-day working session that blasted of yesterday is focusing on the strategies
03:57to combat the monkeypox and will be crowned with the election of a new regional director of WHO
04:08Africa. The deliberations end on Friday, August 30, 2024.
04:15In just three days, it will be over with voters' registration in Cameroon for 2024.
04:22Potential voters who may not meet up with this deadline will have to wait until January next year
04:30when the voters' registers reopen. Voters' Law Samba narrows in on the last-ditch efforts
04:37by some latecomers and how ELEKAM and officials as well as political leaders of political parties
04:46are making good of these last three days to boost voters' registration in the country.
04:51Pressure mounts. The yearly revision of electoral lists ends in three days.
05:12Elections Cameroon is seated in street corners, beckoning on potential voters to seize this
05:18last opportunity to write their names on electoral lists. Political party representatives
05:24work hand-in-gloves to get voters adhered to the call. People come from different neighborhoods
05:31in Yaoundé and even other towns to register. We have not abandoned ELEKAM. We work with the CPDM
05:37and other political parties to mobilize potential voters together. It all happens in line with the
05:44electoral code. The annual revision according to Article 14, Section 2 of the electoral code
05:52begins on January 1st and ends on August 31st in a non-electoral year. It concerns those who
05:57have never registered on voters' lists and then transfers those who have moved towns and want to
06:02move voting stations, takes out names of the dead. To register, one must be Cameroonian, age 20 years
06:09at least. The registered voter automatically gets a receipt which ensures to retrieve the
06:13voter's card. When the exercise ends on August 31, voters will have to wait until January 1 next
06:23year to get another chance to register and that will be possible only if by then the electorate
06:29has not been convinced to the polls for the upcoming presidential election. A number of
06:36stakes are involved in enrollment on electoral registers. Not only does it enable potential
06:44voters to accomplish their civic duties, but massive enrollment of voters and effective
06:51participation in polls renders polls credible and legitimizes those picked at various elections.
07:00Ebenezer Akanga. Elections are a key ingredient of democracy but to take part in an election,
07:09eligible voters must register in electoral rules. Registration in electoral rules therefore become
07:16crucial for citizens to perform their civic duties and participate in enhancing the democratic
07:21process. A democratic process is strengthened by a massive participation of the citizens
07:27so when the level of electoral registration is strong, it is a good sign of democracy
07:36and political legitimacy. Apart from participating in elections, the major stake in registration in
07:44electoral rules is to get a maximum of eligible voters to register and vote so as to render the
07:50elections credible and legitimize those elected into office. We know that the principle is one man
07:59one vote and you cannot win a vote without registration. We sensitize citizens to be
08:14registered because it is a citizen duty and it is the freedom of expression. The electoral registers
08:26will close on the 31st of August 2024. Eligible voters who have not yet registered should therefore
08:32hurry up and do so so as not to be left out of the presidential election in 2025.
08:38With just three days to go for the end of the exercise, the west region of Cameroon is accounting
08:46for just 68,000 voters since the registers were flung open eight months ago. The local
08:54elecum officials are not relenting as they are now going all out to for last registration drive
09:02across the entire region. Noquotos reports from CRTV West.
09:09At the electoral offices in Bafusam, some voters are stopping by to verify that their names are
09:15effectively in the registers. So far 68,000 new voters have been registered across the region
09:22but the local officials say they are not yet where they want to be. The west region has already
09:28registered 68,000 new electors. That yields a percentage of 85 and we have to register 10,000
09:38more electors in order to reach the percentage of 100. The board member for the west region,
09:44Mohamedou Boubakar, is out on a final mobilization and voter registration tour. During these
09:51remaining days, the youth population of the region will be particularly targeted. There are
09:57football championships that are organized for youth and the finals are going to be played
10:03within this week and we are using that opportunity to register more electors. Elecum field teams will
10:10also be very active at marketplaces and other designated registration points in the various
10:17localities of the west region. Cameroon's ministry of finance has uncovered a massive fraud in
10:26birth certificates and claims to pension dues by police and military personnel. An audit commissioned
10:35by that ministry has uncovered more than 12,800 fake birth certificates and at least 140 pension
10:48declarations for 4,300 retirees in these two courses. As Clarice Array-Talcum reports,
10:59these fraudulent acts have created a big hole of 35 billion CFA francs in the public treasury
11:09of the country. The findings uncovered by the joint probe of the ministries of finance and
11:17of defense and the directorate general for national security are part of an audit which
11:21began in 2022. According to the press release from the ministry of finance, warning bells sounded
11:27loud when a sharp increase in child allowance payments to retired military and police personnel
11:32was noticed. This prompted an inquiry which eventually revealed widespread fraud involving
11:38fake birth certificates but also false claims to pension dues submitted by military and police
11:44During the period under review, the document highlights more than 12,800 birth certificates
11:50were found to be fake while at least one false pension declaration was discovered for 4,300
11:55retirees. This led to the conclusion that more than 17,000 people have been receiving these
12:01benefits unjustly. The impact on the public treasury is estimated at billions of CFA francs
12:06lost between 2012 and 2021. This explains the decision to suspend the payment of child allowance
12:12and pension dues to retirees with at least one fake birth certificate. Meanwhile, the system put
12:18in place to regularize the claims has so far registered 110 cases, 52 out of which have been
12:24resolved with a hitherto suspended benefits reinstated for August 2024 and a payment for
12:30July 2024 included. For their part, other claims will be examined through the verification of
12:37authentic documents or for the concerned to complete existing files. The litigation phase
12:42already underway will continue till October 2024 with many wondering what happens next.
12:49Back to school 2024 may well be two weeks away but 80% of textbooks on the official book list
13:08are already on the shelves of bookshops in town. Publishers are sparing and other book dealers
13:16are sparing no effort and say they will be making the remaining 20% of the books
13:23available to all the book approved bookshops that are dealing with the official book list.
13:29Rainatu Sali weighs in on the commitment of the publishers and booksellers in the following report.
13:38The book business seems to be back in full swing. Two weeks to school resumption,
13:43buyers are making their pick.
13:5580% of textbooks on the official book list are available in more than three shops visited,
14:00but for a few in the secondary in both the anglophone and francophone subsystems of
14:05In the francophone subsystems we have 46 textbooks which have been changed. We have most of these
14:11textbooks except this language that is chinois and latin. In accordance to the english subsystems
14:21all the books are available for now. The problem is at the level of the bookshop because they don't
14:28want to get enough stock to satisfy buyers. In the primary all textbooks are available but for
14:37workbooks that are still to make it to the shelves. The minister of basic education asked us to add
14:45in the list two new books sound and building and i think graphics. That book has to be printed in
14:52cameroon and we think that at the end of this week i hope we'll have that book. While the books
15:02available are selling like hot cake, bookshop owners are going back and forth to the publishers
15:07to ensure they are fully stocked before reopening. And to add some sales on the win on their sales
15:16the cameroon's trade minister luke mcglone barga tangana has kick-started the second or the season
15:24trade fair of his department nationwide with an official ritual at the may 20th boulevard
15:31fairground here in yaounde. The event that comes up with peak buying seasons in the country
15:38is the trade ministry's contribution in easing back to school purchases for parents
15:45while furnishing households with affordable food items and other commodities. Details with clarissa
15:55ray talker. Being able to get school items while at the same time not having to spend even more
16:02on other household essentials such as foodstuff this is the objective of the commercial opening
16:07championed by the minister of trade. At the may 20 boulevard parents and guardians have the
16:12opportunity to shop for their various needs at prices many describe as affordable. With the
16:17participation of partner businesses edibles and non-edibles are on display. By making sure that
16:23all the regions of the country are involved the idea is to promote fair deals will contribute to
16:28maintain social cohesion. I could call it a competition a safe competition between the
16:34economic operators is new and we are evolving a few years ago there was about three or five
16:44economic operator today we are more than 20 and the big progress also if we have to compare
16:52the price the price now are dropping is new the price are dropping because there is a competition.
17:02The exercise falls in line with measures put in place by the government to address concerns
17:06attributed to inflation. There are thus calls for wholesalers not to indulge in unorthodox practices
17:12which will defeat the purpose of the initiative. The trade fair is running concomitantly in all
17:19the 10 regions of Cameroon and it avails entrepreneurs and book merchants an opportunity
17:26to put their commodities up front waiting for people to pick. Florence Gumba Nanyongo
17:32made a round of some of the stands and is here with what is trending.
17:39Less than two weeks the 2024-2025 academic year will begin. Coming with a fresh start the
17:46government has organized a trade fair to help parents purchase essential school supplies.
17:51We are here to give a hand of association to the minkom to help the parents to send
17:58their children back to school. This trade fair offers an exciting opportunity for brand owners
18:04to showcase their school kids at affordable prices. We are selling the bag many category of bag
18:13for the lunch bag in year 2,500. The bag costs between 5,000 to 15,000. Customers are captivated
18:27by the services these entrepreneurs provide at their booths notwithstanding the fact that
18:34they cannot afford everything displayed. I am satisfied because I heard the announcement
18:40about the school books fair in Yaounde have come and seen that the prices are a bit cheaper.
18:48Yes I'm very satisfied. I encourage parents to visit for first-hand experience because we want
18:53that by Monday everything should be in place for our kids to resume. As families prepare
19:00for the upcoming school year it is essential to save for the future needs as well. Book dealers
19:08also are certain that 80 percent of the books on the official book list are available promising
19:14to put everything on the shelf before schools reopen. An information which parents have welcomed
19:22as a salutary because it leaves them with ample time to put the requisite book school items
19:28in the backs of their offsprings. Madam Kweli reports from Douala.
19:33Two more weeks left to set the ball rolling for the 2024-2025 school year. It is a scramble for
19:41books in some libraries in Douala by parents who complain about the unavailability of some
19:47of the test books. There are some books that are not here and I have been asked to return next week.
19:55They have told us to be patient and wait for September. I came here two weeks ago and didn't
20:00see books but today I found them so I would come back. The availability of new books on the
20:07official book list was received with mixed feelings though the goal remains to offer
20:13the best education to their children. My first daughter is going to form four and the second
20:19to form three so I thought I won't buy many books this year but when I took the book list
20:24I was very surprised. So far I have bought nine books already and still have more to buy.
20:31For some bookshop owners over 80 percent of textbooks are already available for the primary
20:37and secondary levels for both systems of education with others still pending. Most of the books are
20:44available. We deal with the publishers so most of them they printed the books outside the country
20:49in India so some of them they are saying that the containers are still coming. They have assured
20:54parents of the availability of our textbooks latest first week of September.
21:09And as you heard in the headlines six members of a family have died in Dimako subdivision in the
21:16east region of food poisoning while two others are still in critical condition in the hospital.
21:23Eyewitness accounts say the tragedy occurred following the consumption of corn fufu prepared
21:29with maize that had been treated with chemicals and chemical substances and destined for planting
21:36in farms. East regional governor Gregoire Mvongo has ordered that the two in critical conditions
21:43in hospitals be treated free of charge at the Bertois regional hospital center. From Bertois
21:52completes that story. These are the remnants of the meal that took the lives of six members
22:01of a family late Monday evening in Gwolambeli. One of the victims used corn seedlings treated
22:10with chemical substances to prepare corn fufu for the family at the moment six persons have died.
22:17Inhabitants of this small village near Dimako still find it hard to believe that six of theirs
22:27died after eating corn fufu. The grandmother died alongside her daughter and four grandchildren.
22:36The grandfather and uncle are the ones who survived this incident.
22:40The two fortunate members of this family who survived are currently battling for their lives
22:48at the Bertois regional hospital center. Their condition is still critical but we are doing our
22:55best to save their lives. The divisional officer for Dimako has instructed that all grinding meals
23:03in Gwolambeli be disinfected before use. Governor Gregoire Mvongo while visiting
23:08the survivors in the hospital ordered that they be treated free of charge.
23:17Awfully pathetic there and you're watching the 7.30 on the Cameroon radio television
23:22the CLTV we are beaming live from Yaounde. The directorate general of taxation and private
23:31sector entrepreneurs in the country are currently scanning the 2025 draft state budget of Cameroon
23:40at a workshop in Douala. The first discussions today were between the taxation officers and
23:47various economic chambers of the country with objective to produce an inclusive draft budget
23:55for the country. From Douala, Skola Maloke reports.
24:02The discussions that characterized both meetings were very cordial. At the chamber of commerce
24:07industry mines and crafts were the first meeting held with actors in the commercial and industrial
24:13sector. The president of the chamber of commerce honorable Christophe Eken presented some 18
24:18proposals to be taken into account in the 2025 draft finance law. We have a summit to
24:2518 proposals. We think that they will usually wisely. We have made a lot of proposals
24:32in terms of improving the business atmosphere in terms of tax. During a second meeting members
24:39of the employers union JECAM presented about 50 proposals to the tax administration. All the
24:45proposals the director general of taxation says will be looked into. We have a lot of relevant
24:52propositions. We will see if we can apply this proposition for the fiscal law in 2025. The
25:01meeting was also used by the director general of taxation to help on the need for all to declare
25:06their personal income tax. The contribution is seven percent so it's why the authority asked us
25:14to improve all these declarations. The consultation meetings with the private sector in Douala ends
25:21on august 30. Our man on the my favorite holiday read tonight is Felix Mbayu, minister delegate to
25:33the minister of external relations in charge of cooperation with the commonwealth. The statesman
25:39tells our reporter Joyce Abigail Mfoshi he can survive well on his own if given the proper stuff
25:46to read. But just what book is he reading on the slot tonight? Joyce Abigail.
25:55If you encounter a man of rare intellect ask him what books he reads. What am I reading at the
26:02moment are the books which gives me the daily inspiration like the Daily Stoic by Hanselman.
26:11There's an interesting book which I do imbibe. It's readable but it's also an audiobook. It is
26:23becoming bulletproof by Pompuras and what it does is how to protect yourself intellectually.
26:33Today a reader tomorrow a leader thanks to his elder brother who understood the power behind
26:40reading. May so rest in peace judge Kevin Mbayu who felt that I was a little too dispersed and so
26:46his way of getting me collected was to make tell me at the end of every day I should tell him
26:52something I read. And because a book is a gift you can open again and again it is a perfect bonding
27:00factor for the family. I call them kids they're all adults. My daughter reads more than all the
27:05others. She's a lawyer. With her in particular the pleasure is that she introduces me to
27:13reading materials. The reason I find as loyal as a book. I read or I listen to audiobooks
27:21when I lose my sleep. His message to the younger generation is clear. One of the explanations
27:29of a society where people gossip talk about people is that they don't have anything better
27:35to talk about. Their scope of knowledge is limited and so they deal with the obvious things.
27:41So the honorable statesman books are the plane the train and the road they are the destination
27:49and the journey they are home. Did you ever doubt that sports could be a strong unifying factor?
28:00Well the people of Kupemwani of Thumbel subdivision in the Kupemwani Guba
28:05division of the southwest region just demonstrated that at the just ended
28:11grand final of the George Iwane football trophy organized for the youths of the locality. The
28:18organizer used the event to tell the people to be resilient in the support of the president of the
28:23republic and to ensure that nobody is left behind as back to school 2024 inches in.
28:31From CRTV Southwest we have this report with George Iwane.
28:38Sociopolitical climate in Thumbel subdivision in the first few years of the sociopolitical crisis
28:47made many inhabitants of the subdivision to move to other parts of the southwest
28:53region and Cameroon. Their socio-economic and security situation in the subdivision
28:59has witnessed a tremendous improvement in recent years thanks to the efforts of the
29:06defense forces the administration the elite and the population. The job that we did
29:13we thank God for that. We also thank God that the young men and women of this community
29:20decided to to to follow our advice and today because there is no ambassador in this community
29:28in Kupemwani Guba division especially in Thumbel but more especially in Ebonji. This was the
29:35headquarters of ambassador in the whole of the southwest. Many who left the subdivision during
29:41the peak of the crisis are back. All the activities are beginning to come back to normalcy
29:48following the let's say let's even appreciate there are some of our law enforcement officers
29:54who have been there to see us through this. The return to normalcy has made possible the provision
30:02of electricity to the locality of Ebonji and other surrounding communities. The good man that
30:09the president is in his good heartedness said gave a social electricity to be provided. It is
30:16fully funded by the government. The inhabitants of Thumbel believe a lot in the new deal government
30:23and are optimistic of even better days. Charles Sabuna reporting
30:30The 2024 edition of the Chantal Bia international cycling tour will
30:42peddle across the country from the 1st to the 5th of October 2024. The news was broken in Nyaunde
30:51today during an official presentation ceremony of the tour described by many as a channel
31:00to put Cameroon on the international window. Gilbert Ongene tells us more.
31:08A colorful ceremony to set the stage for the start of the 24th edition of the Chantal Bia
31:14international cycling tour at the Nyaunde Hilton hotel. It opens with a presentation
31:21of the five laps of the tour by the national technical director of the Cameroon Cycling
31:27Federation. The five jerseys in competition with the yellow being the most sought after
31:33are then unveiled to attendees alongside the sponsors not leaving out the different laps
31:40of the tour. What will be special in this edition is the innovations of new laps. The first laps and
31:48the presentation ceremony will be done in Minta. It's the first time that we are going to Minta.
31:54We went there the other day for a training race and believe me the population that we saw was
31:59marvelous. The 24th edition of the Chantal Bia international cycling tour will run from Tuesday
32:06October 1 to Saturday October 5 2024 and will feature 11 teams from Europe and Africa including
32:14Cameroon. We have added
32:20UCI calendar. The cycling race kicks off in Kotenk and will pass through localities like
32:28Nanga Eboku, Minta, Ebolova, Mengong, Sangmelima, Vomeka and Meumesala with the finish line at the 20th May.
32:37The population of Penka Michelle, we are there in the Minoan division of the west region,
32:42is unveiling itself of this last days of August to catch up with the registration of voters
32:49on the voters registers. Such was the recommendation of the political elite of the area that converged
32:58on the town at on the event to close rather the second edition of the holy day of the
33:05second edition of the holy day inter-village sports and cultural tournament organized by a
33:12member the member of MP, member of parliament of the locality.
33:21Penka Michelle in Menwa division came out in their numbers Sunday August 25 to witness
33:28live the grand finale of the honorable Guillaume Bakam Sugar inter-village sports and cultural
33:34tournament in handball and football. Organizers used the occasion to outline the multiple
33:42contributions of the member of parliament to improve upon the living conditions of his people.
33:49Bamendu lifted the female handball trophy while Banswa men's football club were crowned champions
33:57in the tournament. The Banswa village dance group won gold in the traditional dance competition
34:04under the watchful eyes of the senior divisional officer of the Menwa, Itoi, Peter Mbongo,
34:12members of parliament, traditional rulers and a host of other dignitaries.
34:18Over in Minduru in the east region of the country the uh the holiday the Jeunesse Vacances
34:30uh gold holy championship has also ended with a massive turnout of the people of the locality
34:38apart from promoting fair play the championship was an opportunity to preach the values of
34:45togetherness for the youths of that area. We have this report from CRTV east.
34:54Odle FC of Minduru Mbwa spectacular win over Fales FC was the proof that they
35:00merit a deserving exposition of this competition from start to the end. Odle demonstrated skills
35:07tact and sportsmanship after 90 minutes of intense competition. Odle FC was crowned winner after
35:13beating Fales two goals to zero. Our wish was to take home this trophy though we had lost hope at
35:20the start we doubled our efforts and we are going home with a trophy. The over one month of intense
35:26competition between the young players of Minduru Mbwa was an opportunity for the organizers to
35:31preach love, unity, peaceful coexistence and above all tolerance. In the presence of the
35:37deal for the subdivision of Mdilele municipal and traditional authorities for my intermittent
35:42lions as well as other dignitaries school kids were handed to some students for the outstanding
35:48performance during the 63 students for academic year trophies medals and cash prizes were equally
35:54given to the winners of this tournament. BK Ongum reporting there from CRTV east and we end this
36:03news with this uh good news too coming from Prometal group which will begin putting made
36:11in Cameroon pre-painted aluminium coil on the local market as from January 2027 an innovation
36:21that has been made possible thanks to a trilateral partnership agreement between the state
36:29Alukum and the Prometal group. Lekia to get to it as soon as it reports from CRTV center.
36:36According to the partnership agreement Alukum will provide the raw material needed for the
36:41production of roofing sheets which Cameroon has been partially importing for quite some time.
36:47With the coming of uh we are going to increase the availability of those roofing sheets for
36:55the Cameroonian customers and not only the Cameroonian customers but with all the possibilities
37:01that the free trade zone is going to bring. This agreement is expected to move the roofing
37:08sheets industry to a new level strengthening the impact on development objectives in particular
37:14an import substitution strategy thereby ensuring the balance of trade and the processing of raw
37:21materials. We have to produce the coil of the aluminium and then we have a lot of products
37:26like sandwich panel composite panel this is and also the pre-painting sheet this is very
37:32important for the roofing sheet about like 70 percent of the our production should be for
37:35roofing sheet and the other 30 percent of for the other products like sandwich panel and the
37:41composite panel it's like the aluco bond which one we put into the building and everything and
37:45we have also the factory for the cable electrical cable in aluminium and copper and this will be
37:51enough for the market in Cameroon and for the region also of central Africa. Proalu is
37:58charged with the manufacturing of aluminium coils pre-painted steel coils and electrical cables.
38:04The 88 billion CFA funds project is expected to commence in January 2025 in Douala and upon
38:12completion will have a production capacity of 30,000 tons per annum of aluminium coils 30,000
38:20tons of pre-painted coils and by-products with 6,000 tons of electrical cables. With this move
38:29Proalu is poised in maintaining its leadership position as the main aluminium supplier in
38:35Cameroon from 2027 when the project will be completed.
38:39And that's the news thanks for watching see you tomorrow
39:09you