Councillors Call For Boycott Of Taxes

By Wamey Panky

The political flame that glowed within the Ndu and Nkambe councils ever since the July 22nd Municipal elections has recently resurfaced.

This comes against a backdrop of tracks circulated in both SDF-run municipalities titled “Operation zero taxes for Ndu and Nkambe councils.” The tracks were a result of resolutions taken by disgruntled councillors.

In the various documents, the councillors and the local population promised to wreck the peace of the municipalities should the administration not get their mayoral seats from those they termed “embezzlers, fraudsters and cheats” and give them to the “rightful owners”.

It should be recalled that trouble started within the two municipalities when David Karngong Nfor and Jones Mangoh Tanko of Ndu and Nkambe councils, respectively, allegedly bought their ways into the councils and were later sacked by the SDF Party hierarchy.

Thus, disagreements between the councillors and the Mayors have stalled the function of the councils.According to an undated track, “The populations of Ndu and Nkambe have waited patiently for too long for councillors’ action to rescue our taxes from the hands of embezzlers-David Karngong Nfor and Mangoh Jones Tanko.

We therefore, declare zero taxes for these two councils from January 2, until further notice.” The track calls on “buyam sellams”, taxi drivers, “clandor” drivers, farmers and traders to stop financing enemies of development.

In a press release dated December 29, 2008, the Nkambe SDF District Chair, Wilfred Mbeh Shey, states that the circulated tracks are justified due to the political impasse and the people’s patience. Shey calls on “the administration to listen to the cry of the people and implement the Laws of the land.”

In a resolution dated December 29, 2008, and signed by 24 of the 41 councillors of the Nkambe Council, the councillors called for a general boycott of taxes of all forms in the Municipality and blamed the former Senior Divisional Officer for Donga-Mantung, Godlive Mboke Ntua, for the political impasse.

In the heat of this uproar, the Sub-Prefects of Ndu and Nkambe separately convened meetings with the councillors to seek solutions to the problem but the councillors have remained defiant, insisting that the administration had pushed them to the wall.

SDO’s Stomy Session

On his part, the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, for Donga-Mantung, Mbiwan Nchaffu, summoned the councillors, MPs, DOs together and the Division’s economic operators on January 2, 2009,in Nkambe. The meeting became stormy and almost went out of proportion but for the SDO’s tact.

All the stakeholders at the meeting faulted the administration, especially the former SDO, for the political impasse. The councillors wondered why charges of embezzlement and mismanagement levied against Jones Mangoh Tanko and David Nfor Karngong for close to two years had never been probed into by the administration and why the said SDO barred them from an extra-ordinary session to establish the vacancies created by the two Mayors dismissed from the party.

On his part, the Nkambe Mayor, Jones Mangoh, declared that the problems of the two councils were the result of the differences between him and Hon. Awudu Mbaya. He said, since Hon. Mbaya wanted his head, he (Mangoh) would not spare him either. He admitted having signed his dismissal letter from the SDF party hierarchy but he said he immediately forwarded an appeal letter and that while waiting for the SDF National Convention to deliberate on his appeal, he must continue in office as the elected Mayor.

Mangoh also refuted claims of embezzlement levied against him and boasted that national and Regional auditing services had checked him clean. He also distanced himself from allegations that he militates in the Southern Cameroon National Council, SCNC, which Hon. Mbaya had said was verifiable.

In concluding the meeting, the SDO warned that he would not tolerate physical threats on people’s lives. However, he said, he was elated that all of them had strongly condemned tracks against the payment of taxes. He stated that the non-payment of taxes would not only freeze the councils but also state institutions as the latter also benefit from council taxes.

He prayed them to educate their populations at various levels to pay their taxes. The SDO said the solution to the political impasse would from the councillors and the administration. At the end of the meeting, the 1st Deputy Mayor for Ndu, Wilson Serkwi Tasi, told the press that they were satisfied because the SDO was well informed about the truth of the problem and he understands the will of the people.

On the other hand, he said they were not satisfied because no attempted solution was given to the main problem and that they must continue to bear pressure on the administration.

Comments

[Danny Boy]

Smacks of the American colonies who cried foul at British subterfuge, with the slogan, " no taxation without representation"! Ndu tea being dumped at the S.D.O's front door will just be as symbolic as Chinese tea being dumped into Boston Harbour!
I shudder to think of the outcome. A revolution perhaps?
It is the silly season, so please read this with care.
Happy New Year, 2009.
Danny.