What goes around comes around:

The fate that awaits Charles Ndongo as GM of CRTV

Charles Pythagoras Ndongo

There is no doubt that the new GM of the state-owned radio/television outfit, CRTV, is a cut-steeped-and-dried journalist. But no one can be sure that Charles Pythagoras Ndongo will be able to translate his wonderful talents as journalist into leadership and management ability as GM of CRTV. Besides, while serving under his predecessor, AmadouVamoulke, Charles Ndongo also fought battles against him. His adversaries are now also waiting for him, as he takes over the management of the house.

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

Charles Pythagoras Ndongo, the emblematic and very talented, nay, charismatic public journalist, who was appointed as general manager of the Cameroon radio-television CRTV last week, might not have inherited a very confortable seat after all.

                As senior director under his predecessor, the now beleaguered AmadouVamoulke, Charles Ndongo seemed to have been playing two simultaneous and contradictory roles. Though holding the covetous position of director of information of CRTV at the time, Charles Ndongo was also known to have fought many battles against Vamoulke.

                Workers of CRTV still recall vividly that no sooner did Vamoulke really got seated in his office as GM than Charles Ndongo set in motion a spate of protests against his management. Charles Ndongo was said to have initiated the famous memorandum that some senior staffers of CRTV drafted and signed, calling for Vamoulke’s sacking.

                Though the senior staffers of CRTV took offense with Vamoulke for making appointments that fell short of their expectations, analysts said the real issue was that Charles Ndongo and others, who hatched the plot and initiated its execution, did not see themselves working under some body they considered an outsider.

                Analysts said after serving the regime whole-heartedly and unswervingly for over two decades, Charles Ndongo believed the CRTV top job should have been his. But the authorities preferred instead Vamoulke, who had virtually jumped out of the sinking state ship (Vamoulke was one-time DG of the National Printing Press) and was eking out a living else where in the private sector.

                “Because Charles Ndongo was not made the GM, he easily became disappointed with himself and with the regime. In his frustration, he resorted to fighting Vamoulke whom he believed had been handed a job that might have been his,” speculated an informed observer.

                Even though Charles Ndongo continued working at the CRTV production house in Mballa II, Yaounde, it was observed that the enthusiasm and drive with which he used to hold down his job suddenly fizzled out.

                It is believed by many that under Vamoulke, Charles Ndongo served more as a spy than a loyal collaborator. Even some CRTV journalists confirmed that Charles Ndongo had become so unenthusiastic about his job that he only put in long hours at work and hardly long hours of work. He only came out sporadically, and this was only when he was sure that his outing would be noticed by President Biya.

                Even Eric Chinje, one-time editor at CRTV and Charles Ndongo’s former boss, wondered at some point why he was no longer seeing his former collaborator and friend on air.

                But as it is often said, perseverance has never failed a man. Even though Charles Ndongo might have been disappointed with the system, he persevered and stayed put, even if he was no longer the hard worker that he was known to be. More importantly, Charles Ndongo did not turn his back on the regime; he continued massaging Biya’s ego and singing his praises where ever and whenever it was necessary. Today he is reaping the fruits of his labour and perseverance.

                But as GM of CRTV, Charles Ndongo can be sure that some of his former colleagues will fight battles against him, just as he did against Vamoulke.

                However, we of this newspaper cease the opportunity to congratulate the new GM of CRTV. We also wish him good luck, as he begins performing the very challenging but exalted tasks that are his.