By Walter Wilson Nana
Once more, the 15th edition of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope has come and gone, leaving in its trails heartache, anger, disorganisation and misappropriation of resources. Athletes, administrative and municipal officials as well as observers have in one way or the other noted the organisational lapses that marred this year’s Mt. Cameroon Race of Hope, Saturday, February 20.
The lapses notwithstanding, Joseph Tiben Wirba, who used 4 hours, 36 minutes, from Molyko Omnisport Stadium to the summit and back, said the organisation of the race was doomed to fail.
“The Athletics Federation has done a poor job. Two weeks to the start of the race, they announced that the race course had been changed; from Molyko Omnisport Stadium to Mile 17 Motor Park and up to Hut II. This “new” programme disturbed my training exercise and many other athletes. I would have beaten the existing record. Two days after, the race course was reinstated to what we know. It became complicated for our training and preparations,” the champion fumed. Wirba, a member of the Veteran Athletics Club in Kumbo, Bui Division, hails from the Northwest Region of Cameroon.
Buea Mayor, Charles Mbella Moki had earlier distanced himself from the organisation, saying members of the local organising committee of the race and other stakeholders in Buea municipality were sidelined in the set up.
“I have been calling for the proper organisation of the race, whereby all the stakeholders must be represented. My request was not granted. Since it represented the wishes of my people, which I represent, I decided to stay with them rather than being party to a kind of mafia that was causing pain and anger in my community,” the Mayor this reporter.
According to Mbella, if you refuse to listen to the advice of a people, at anytime, you will be forced to listen to them when they are bitter.
“In the process, some measures were taken by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Michel Zoah, to remedy some of the grievances we raised. We thank him for his concern and fatherliness but I think that the Cameroon Athletics Federation has a lot of work to do. The race is threatening the peace and tranquillity of Buea. We need to forge ahead and by extension, this nation,” he said.
Mbella prescribed dialogue, constant consultations and the integrity of the race. To him, the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope is a unique opportunity for the people of Cameroon and the government to exploit, especially the economic, social and the international touch of the race.
“You can see the enthusiasm, excitement generated by the race. All of these must be taken into consideration. The race is not there to satisfy a handful of people, who are only interested to enrich themselves and pilfer from the state coffers. The race can do more, bring greater benefits to greater numbers. Why should we deprive our people of an opportunity to better their lot and get away with what is wrongly applied, as we saw in the race and what we’ve seen in the last fourteen years,” he lamented.
To assert his authority and put things in the right perspectives, Mbella had on the eve of the race, disrupted a purported laying of a foundation stone for a house to be constructed by the Cameroon Athletics Federation for seven-time champion of the Mt. Cameroon Race in the female category, Sarah Liengu Etonge.
The Mayor argued that it was a calculated attempt to deceive the population of Buea and Sarah in particular.
“Same group of people came two years ago and set up a statue, which did not look like or represented Sarah Etonge. We hear a lot of money was injected into the fictitious project and a few hours later, the population pulled down the so-called monument. In 2009, they came to lay a foundation stone for Sarah Etonge, certainly budgeted for. People came there and nothing happened. No apology was tendered. This year, another deceit was organised, bringing people who know nothing about the processes of the laying of a foundation stone. Of course, I took my responsibility and asked them to get away with all that make-believe. I have no regrets for all what I did and action taken. If they come again in same irresponsible manner, I will send them away from Buea. We have to look at the realities on the ground and address them as such,” Mbella said.
He questioned whether when other Cameroonian sports and cultural glories like Francois Etone Mbango, Roger Albert Milla, Anne Marie Nzie and more were honoured by the state, in the same way like what is being attempted to Sarah now? To him, Cameroonians must see serious business go on in the honour of other heroes and heroines in other parts of the country.
“The case of Sarah Etonge had the absence of the Mayor of Buea, the Divisional Officer of Buea, the President of the Cameroon Athletics Federation and other expected dignitaries of the Southwest Region and the country in general. It was an exercise put in place to withdraw money from the coffers of the Federation for the parochial interests of some individuals and not the laying of a foundation stone. It is a disgrace! We must be clear about these things,” Mbella said
He told africanews.com that there are a lot of nasty things happening underneath the preparations of the race, adding that all cannot be revealed because the society has to be protected.
“If I voice them out, there is going to be disaster. I have decided to keep them with me because of the sake of peace and the respect for the unity of this country,” he fumed.
Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, Buea Rural Member of Parliament, expressed joy at the enthusiasm of the people of Buea for the race but also expressed frustration on the poor organisation.
“I am not part of the organisation of the race, but I do share with the reports I hear from the media and the people in Buea that things are not moving well. No minister was present at the event. It is an activity that concerns culture, tourism, international relations and other sectors. When I get back to Yaounde, we will discuss all that with the Prime Minister, Philemon Yang,” she noted.
The Member of Parliament invited stakeholders to come to the dialogue table and discuss all the issues concerning the race and see how it can be improved. “We need better coordination. The government is putting a lot of money in the race and very concerned about the smooth functioning of the race. Let all be involved for proper management,” she said.
The Governor of the Southwest Region of Cameroon, Koumpa Issa acknowledged that he had heard about the problems in the organisational set-up of the race, but promised to get on board and ensure that subsequent preparations will be hitch-free.
2010 Winners
Joining Tiben Wirba on the second position for the laureates was Simplice Ndungue, wearing jersey number 359 from the M’Muock Athletics Club in Lebialem Division, Southwest Region. The third was Godlove Gabsibuin, with jersey number 391.
For the ladies, last year’s winner, Yvonne Ngwaya of the Authentic Athletics Club, in Kumbo, Bui Division, Northwest Region, with jersey number 002, once more grabbed the first position. She was trailed by Patience Timpep Gwyay from the same club, with jersey number 512. The 37-year-old mother of two is a farmer and resident in Kumbo. Lisette Ngalim, 21, came third. A member of Authentic Athletic Club, Ngalim is a student at the St. Augustine Professional and Senegalese Tailoring Institute in Kumbo.
In the Junior category, Sheni Hassan, putting on jersey number 556, came first. He was seconded by Kadiri Seini, with jersey number 555 and Jude Ngeh, with jersey number 545 came third.
The Veteran category had as winners; Gaston Nguimkeng, Maurice Kenfack and Diffo Kengne.
The youngest athlete, 13 year-old Mary Grace Wirba of the Shisong Bees Sports Academy, Kumbo ended at Hut I. She ran the race in 2008, 2009 and now 2010.
700 athletes participated at the 2010 Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, with some coming from thirteen other countries; Belgium, Japan, China, USA, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, France, Germany, Egypt, Algeria, Spain and Britain.