By Ngenwie Azeh
The Cameroon Journalists' Trade Union (CJTU) has completed the organization of elections in four of her ten chapters. The most recent was on Friday 7 April 2023 for the West Chapter where Rene Mbondjeu was elected president.
The long time media practioner emerged winner of the election with 30 out of 31 votes with a null vote cast. The Bafoussam elections supervised by the National President of CJTU, Marion Obam permitted the current members of the Union in the West Region to elected a close to 20 man strong team including Divisional Representatives that will coordinate activities for the next two years.
Accompanying the National President was the National Vice President incharge of International Relations Bakah Derick, the Immediate Past President Denis Nkwebo and other National Executive Bureau members in the West Region.
Enter South
On Thursday 6 April 2023, The National Executive Bureau represented by the Vice President incharge of Gender Elise Kenimbeni and the Secretary General Hilaire Hamekoue were in the South Regional Headquarters Ebolowa to oversee elections.
According to reports from the South the following were elected into office: President: Roger Takala (La Nouvelle Expression Group), Vice-President in charge of Public Relations: Lazare Kingué (Mutations, Kribi Focal Point), Vice-President in charge of Gender: Aurélie Cressence Mbida (Kribi one Tv web), General Secretary: Guy-Roger Mvondo (Mutations), Deputy Secretary General in charge of trade union action: Paul Patrice Amougou (Radio Rcdm), Secretary for Solidarity: Ondo Okpwae Freddy (CRTV WAVE FM), Secretary for Legal Affairs and Litigation: Martin Lemba (Stv), Secretary for Organizing and Union Mobilization: Awung Emerincia Folifac (Glory Fm), Secretary for Training: André Aristide Ekomba (Crtv-Sud Station Manager), Secretary for Communication and Alerts: Jacques Pierre Seh (Le Mesager), Treasurer: Ambroise Fogué (Canal 2), Auditors: Serge Kingué (Canal 24); Mirabelle Awa (Radio Nkul-Bisoé), Advisors: Joseph Abena Abena; Jerome Essian; Tonye Damien; Kamal
Littoral Chapter
As the seat of the Union, election at the Littoral Chapter was competitive on Saturday 25 March 2023. Though untrue information circulated of more list prior to the elections, two finally went for the contest. Under the supervision of the National Executive Bureau represented by the National President Comrade Marion Obam, Cathy Mintsa emerged winner. With a team of about 15, she will lead the Littoral Chapter till 2025.
North West
Nji Ignatius received a 100 percent vote from his comrades in the North West Region on Saturday 25 March 2023 to clinch a second mandate at the helm of the Chapter. Standing unopposed, Nji assured his members that much has been done in the previous years to build the Chapter and he was not prepared to let that crumble. He has promised to remain a servant Leader with the hope of protecting registered members practicing in the restive North West Region.
Representating the National Executive Bureau at the elections was Bakah Derick Vice President incharge of International Relations. He has encouraged the media professionals for electing leaders with the right capacities to drive the press freedom and freedom of expression agenda in the North West Refion.
Elections for the rest of the regions have been programmed in the coming weeks