MBOSCUDA trains Mbororo Councilors in The Northwest Region

By Bakah Derick 

Blogger@hilltopvoices

 

MBOSCUDA workshop

During the 2013 municipal elections in Cameroon, 48 Mbororos were elected as Municipal Councilors in 28 Councils in the Northwest Region. In 2007, 27 of them were councilors but prior to this; none. This is an achievement the Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association #MBOSCUDA is celebrating.

Duni Jeidoh Human Rights Officer MBOSCUDA

However, #MBOSCUDA's Human Rights Officer Duni Jeidoh who doubles as National Vice President for the association, believes that it is not about a growth in number; it is about a growth in quality. This is the reason why the association this 17th March, 2015, with support from European Union Civil Society  framework, organised a three day workshop on lobbying and advocacy for Mbororo Councilors of the Northwest Region.
The Human Rights officer says it is due to the sensitisation efforts of  #MBOSCUDA that Mbororos are coming into the scene of decision making. He adds that as a minority they have been out for a longtime and since Mbororos are not living in isolation, they should be fully involved involved in the decision making process so they can live side by side with their fellow Cameroonians. 


Being a minority, Mbororos have not been assertive for a couple of reasons amongst them, discrimination, fear, illiteracy, neglect etc.

MBOSCUDA Regional coordinator with a handbag visiting Councilors in Training

Taking place with the main objective of strengthening the capacities of Mbororo Councilors to effectively engage with other actors of the decision making process, it is hope that the workshop will give the Mbororo municipal legislators the opportunity to exercise their duties as expected by their electorate. 

Reactions                                         

      Dija Haro Baby Deputy Mayor Zoa Council
"I am very happy to be here. I am a Deputy Mayor and I do not feel poorly treated. However I think that, with this workshop I am going to understand how to lobby for my people. I Also thing that though I have been doing some project at the end of this workshop I will be able to advocate for my people."



 

 

Dr Richard Ndi in Training

Dr Ricahard Ndi main facilitator
The workshop is basically on advocacy and lobbying. The idea is to get some of their ideas in these areas  and see how we can harness them to render them more effective in trying to advocate for the Mbororo community in the local councils where they belong. I think advocacy is about how to approach issues, how to approach decision makers and if they are able to aticulate their concerns and approach decision makers from a position of strength that is strength in terms of the arguments that they  present, no decision maker will be able to refuse them what they want"

Hilltopvoices tells stories like this with great joy hoping that some day no one will be less human than another.