Emmanuel Konde
Introduction
When the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy noted that "The problem of power is how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public," he was referring of men who actually had and exercised power.
But there are men without power who, through indirect association with men of power, actually come to think of themselves as powerful. This kind of powerless power is called vicarious power. It is safe to infer that those who exercise vicarious power are more dangerous than those who actually possess power because they accountable to none.
In the old order a segment of the leadership of CPDM-USA was embroiled in a cozy relationship with the Embassy, which gave that leadership access to the Embassy as well as it resources. That relationship prompted the Beltway CPDM-USA leadership to consider itself not subordinate to but as partners with the Embassy, giving rise to big-headedness and the erroneous translating of vicarious power to real power. That was the old order. When the new order sought to redefine the old relationship, hell broke loose and elaborate machinations were concocted to halt change on its tracts. Based on the limited evidence published so far, here below is an analysis of what transpired.
Disarray within the Ranks of CPDM-USA
It is stunning how a seemingly well-oiled organization can crumble when incompetents are placed at its helm. I am writing about CPDM-USA, whose leadership seems to be running helter-skelter following a recent unfortunate incident at the Embassy grounds. From all apparent indications, the incident was probably orchestrated by rivalry within CPDM-USA. What is going on? Why can’t CPDM-USA function with the kind of efficiency and orderliness that has characterized the work of the party in Cameroon since its inception in 1985?
From reading the writings posted on this forum so far, and from careful study of the machinations that attended the fiasco on the Embassy grounds, I can discern something more sinister reeling behind the scenes. Pushing this acrimony forward are two mutually hostile camps within CPDM-USA and the presence of of some disgruntled elements determined to exploit the situation. Beyond this exploitative design is the power-play within the Section. Caught in this morass of incompetent leadership and the exploitation of agent provocateurs is the Embassy, the one and only representative institution of the Republic of Cameroon in the United States.
The displeasure of some, who are ostensibly incensed by the new direction the Embassy seems to be taking, is understandable. This new direction, though still in its embryonic stage, seems not to portend well for the beneficiaries of the old order. Although the full details of what actually happened are yet to be made public, this political observer can discerns the outlines of something more sinister in that unfolding drama. At the center of this seemingly innocent confrontation is the passing of the touch from the old regime that was probably mired in corruption to a new one that seeks to clean house and begin the writing of a new chapter on a clean slate.
The Price of Change
Change is difficult to implement by people fixed in old ways of doing things. In fact, as habits are easier to form than to eradicate, so change is difficult to implement within a system that had been for a very long time nourished in corruption. But change might have had a good chance if the rank and file of CPDM-USA were united. Unfortunately, dissension within the ranks of the Section did not help matters; it led to further complications that made the implementation of change even more difficult.
Opposition to change coupled with the possibility of losing both access and resources were some of the underlying causes of the protest action initiated by the Beltway CPDM-USA leadership against the Embassy. It is obvious that the Section is divided into two hostile camps that mirror the struggle for change taking place at the Embassy. One of the camps is for the status quo and supports the maintenance of the old system that had benefited it; the other camp stands for change and supports the new house cleaning program currently in progress. The sinister aspect of this struggle is that the CPDM-USA actors engaged in the struggle that was brought to public relief are hewn from the same bark. They are incompetent, dictatorial, and needful of some real education in the theory and practice of democratic politics.
It is within the context of this struggle between the old order and new order that the machinations that ushered into play the recent altercation at the Embassy can best be understood. At the core of this struggle is not so much a contest over love of party and country as some members of the crumbling CPDM leadership have started to proclaim. Beneath it all is a struggle of self-interest, self-aggrandizement, and vicarious power, which has often stalled nearly every development project in the Fatherland since independence. It is sad to note that this sad episode is being replayed among those who ought to know better, who ought to place the national interest above private interests.
Political Adroitness or Gamesmanship
Yes, the recent imbroglio at the Embassy was probably orchestrated by rivalry within CPDM-USA in order to halt the process of change, discredit its agents and, if possible, turn back the clock to the old ways of the old order. It is worth noting the initial reaction of the leadership of CPDM-USA. When the calamity first surfaced it was greeted with gleeful silence, as the leadership watched from the sidelines to see which of the major factions would emerge victorious in the struggle. No sooner it became apparent that the purveyors of change would be triumphant than each of the formerly silent leaders begin to voice their messages of support for the emerging new order.
My reading and analysis of events leads me to the conclusion that the old order and its supporters will be sidelined. Given the demonstrated political adroitness of the CPDM-USA leadership, its sophisticated gamesmanship and willingness to jump ship, it would serve the Embassy well not to strike as cozy a relationship with Section leaders reminiscent of the old order. What then should the new order entail, that is, with respect to relations between the Embassy and CPDM-USA?
Admittedly, the Cameroon Embassy in Washington is managed by the ruling CPDM Party for all Cameroonians in the United States and not for the CPDM-USA Section. Given the intensity of old order relations between the Embassy and CPDM-USA, however, many Cameroonians came to erroneously perceive the Embassy as an extension of the CPDM Party. This perception is wrong and the Embassy must work assiduously to change it. To achieve this end, the umbilical relations that had hitherto characterized dealings between The Embassy and CPDM-USA should be severed.
Direction of Change
The Embassy must officially distance itself from the local politics of the CPDM-USA Section. Neutrality would augur a new kind of relationship between Diaspora Cameroonians in the United States and that representative institution. Indeed, house cleaning should not end within the Embassy. It must extend beyond personnel to the physical outlook of the building, inside and outside because perception matters in diplomatic representation. The offices must be refurbished, the grounds well manicured, and a vigorous outreach program established with the aim of repairing long neglected relations between the Diaspora community and their Embassy.
The direction of the new relationship between the Embassy and CPDM-USA should be tilted toward l neutrality, curtailment of CPDM-USA access to the Embassy and its resources, and severance of any kind of special affiliation. Cameroonians have a strong proclivity for vicarious power and dictatorial tendency. Consequently, those who are seen as close to the Embassy are often construed as privileged. There is not much that one can eat or drink in any person’s house in America that one cannot afford to buy for himself and his family and consume at his/her home. In this regard, America is unique and so should members of the Cameron Diaspora in the United States. Cognizant of this reality, therefore, independent minded individuals who do not depend on the Embassy should first be elected to serve by militants, and then dispatched to Cameroon for leadership training before assuming office.
The CPDM-USA leadership must be democratic, non-tribalistic, anti-nepotistic, and transparent. Failure to redefine itself by adopting these characteristics and adapting to the federal principle of governance that confers autonomy to its respective sub-Sections would no doubt lead to more destructive rupturing of the Section in the years to come. If my admonition is not adhered to, the good from this would be that the Embassy will at least not be embroiled in the next fiasco.
After all the exposure we expect more of "most" Cameroonians in the US .
Hopefully this is an exception and not the norm.
Njoh
Posted by: yes | Tuesday, 24 November 2009 at 11:23 AM
CPDM -USA my foot!
There is no right-minded Cameroonian out of Africa who doesn't get embitter by the abuse of power and broad day banditry of the CPDM gov't in Cameroon. So the whole gang brandishing themselves as CPDM-USA are looking for ways to steal. One of such ways is to get closer to the embassy. Another is posing as Organising Committees during Biya's visit.
"There is not much that one can eat or drink in any person’s house in America that one cannot afford to buy for himself and his family and consume at his/her home" by Konde.
Konde your "wonderful and talented" CPDM gov't can't brag around about peace and economic successes when Cameroonians in the country can't afford these.
Konde, your somehow brilliant suggestions above doesn't extricate you from the bunch of that notorious organisation. You are merely playing smart. Your pro-CPDM and anti-graffi stance have taken your PhD to the gutters.
Posted by: Bob Bristol | Tuesday, 24 November 2009 at 12:45 PM
Excellent analysis that really sheds light into what is happening at the Embassy. What is described here is characteristic of what can be expected of the dynamics of implementing change among people.
There is the old guard... the bad guys(monsters of inertia). And the progressives... the good guys. There has to be war between these opposing forces, and change occurs when the new guard wins. This is how it will always be. So don't be surprised to see this pattern occur again and again in Cameroon in the coming months.
The bottom line is that for change to occur the new guard MUST ALWAYS WIN! They cannot be allowed to fail!
Posted by: Adolf A Agbormbai | Tuesday, 24 November 2009 at 05:08 PM
This is the inevitably consequence of politicizing the civil service. It is shamefull and patently undemocratic that the Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon in Washington DC is synonymous with the ruling CPDM party.
Posted by: Kumbaboy | Tuesday, 24 November 2009 at 09:43 PM
Look at the prostitutes!
Posted by: Ma Mary | Friday, 27 November 2009 at 07:08 AM