Cameroon Media: Equinox TV's Mbuh Stella shares reporting experiences.

By Nfor Nkfu

The North West regional correspondent of Douala-based Equinox Television channel says the challenges faced reporting from the crisis hit North West Region are many. She spoke to Hilltopvoices.com in Bamenda June 26th after winning an award from The Herald Tribune newspaper for her bravery and courage in journalism practice.

 

Mbuh Stella

Award winning #MbuhStella was singled out and recognized for defying security challenges, and going through very difficult terrains in the North West region of Cameroon to give a professional touch to news reporting . The award was handed to her in Yaounde on June 25th in a ceremony to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Herald Tribune newspaper.

"I dedicate this award to all journalists working in the North West and South West Regions.It is challenging not only for me but for all journalists reporting especially from the North West Region.The terrain is rough,coupled with the armed connflict, poor Network and epileptic power supply-we all face these as journalists", Stella told Hilltopvoices.

".....if I was selected for this award,it means the jurry saw something I was offering that is different from others." She added

As a result of the armed conflict she treks to places to get news "At times we get up and discover that taxis or bikes are not moving but something is happening in a neighborhood that must be reported.To get real facts you have to go there.Most often you do it on foot to get to the scene", Stella narrated.

The situation,she said is more difficult when accessing areas where heavy fighting is taking place."I remember being slapped by a separatist fighter for invading their area.I have equally received threats from security forces for daring to get information from conflict areas",she recounted.

"I keep facing these challenges but I tell those who can listen that as a journalist I have to go everywhere because I have to tell every story.There are times some will understand and they are times I will just retire and device another means to tell the story",she furthered.

At a time propaganda is eating deep into journalism practice,she cautioned fellow journalists to stick to the rules of the profession."In this crisis,propaganda is being used as a tool by both parties.Government wants you to say that they killed 30 Ambazonian generals while Ambazonian fighters want you to say that they killed 50 soldiers.Everybody is protecting an agenda.Information is being manipulated.As journalists,we should not rely on this.We have to go to the field and really find out",She observed

From field experience,she opined that dialogue is the only way out of the armed conflict in the North West and South West regions."We can not be shooting ourselves everyday and expect another person to die.We will all die if we do not sit on a round table and talk our problems.Resources are being wasted for bullets,guns and vehicles to kill ourselves.We could use that money to build our roads, schools and hospitals that will help us.War will take us nowhere near development.We will keep destroying ourselves if we do not sit and talk",She opined.