Following recent details by the Elections
Governing body ELECAM, on the number of Councilors that effectively took part
in Sunday March 25 Senatorial Elections, 1037 Councilors voted in the North
West Region.
As per the laws and various government
officials who have spoken on the issue, each councilor is expected to collect
FCFA 50.000 at the polling station after voting. Several councilors we spoke to
from across the region confirmed that they had their transport after voting on
Election Day.
If all the 1037 Councilors effectively
received their taxi fare of FCFA 50.000 as it is called, it is not out of place
to conclude that FCFA 51.850.000M was
used for taxi fare by councilor. Nationally slightly above 10 000 councilors
effectively voted putting the national taxi fare at over FCFA 500M
“Well for those of us in town where we spend
less than 1000frs to get to the polling station it looks much but there are
places in this region where moving to the divisional headquarter is far more than
that. So personally I don’t think the money is too much. If you look well it is
the average amount.” Sylvester a CPDM Councilor said reacting to suggestions
that the money is too much to be used for transport fare.
Agreeing with the CPDM Councilor, Martin an
SDF Councilor added “the laws of this country are not been respected. If the
status of Councilors with all due advantages respected I will not recommended
that there should be no taxi fare for councilor since it is a civic
responsibility. It is the carelessness of a government that does not
strategies.”
Reacting on the necessity for the transport
fare and the amount Christian Dzelamonyuy a teacher in Bamenda said “Well the
money is good for them. I hear they are not paid and that they have a small stipend
only during their sessions. Maybe that is a small thing for them just as a gift
since they are not paid but how much is that and it even comes just after five
years. Let the collect the money. I have noticed that councilors had to brave
threats and all odds to vote not because it’s a civic responsibility but
because of the money which means money also encourages participation and fights
voter apathy. I am sure if for other elections Cameroonians were guaranteed
just 1000F as taxi fare voter apathy in Cameroon will be a thing of the past.”