CPDM reorganization:

35-years limit frustrates ageing YCPDM militants 
Many YCPDM militants who have crossed the 35-years limit have not stopped cursing party hierarchy for imposing the age barrier as a  condition for eligibility of candidates to run in elections during the reorganization of grassroots structures of the party. The over-aged youths question why age limit should be imposed only now, when some incumbent youth wing leaders are up to 50 years and above.        
By Nwo- Fuanya in Limbe

CPDM Scribe Jean Nkuete

Many youths of the CPDM Fako I section have expressed worries and disappointment over some of the conditions for eligibility contained in the guidelines laid down by the party hierarchy for election into the basic organs of the party. The youths complain for instance that the 35 years age limit for YCPDM is not only disfavourable for some of them; it also automatically disqualifies them from the entire reorganization process.
    These and other worries were expressed during an enlarged meeting of CPDM Fako 1 that took place on Thursday 27 August 2015 in Limbe and chaired by the section president Andrew Motanga Mojimba who doubles as Limbe Government Delegate.
    Speaking at the event Andrew Motanga noted that ever since the National President of the CPDM party, Paul Biya announced the reorganization of the party basic organs, there have been all kinds of rumours and misinformation on how the exercise will unfold. He said the National President’s circular was followed by another by the Secretary General of the party, Jean Nkuete giving guidelines for the reorganization exercise.
    Motanga told the militants that the meeting was convened to explain what the SG’s guidelines stipulate, so that militants who are nursing ambitions can start preparing ahead of the D-day and should avoid being disqualified in the eleventh hour.
    Andrew Motanga therefore called for a reading of the National President’s circular, as well as the text of application issued by the Secretary General of the party. This was done by the section secretaries, Tanga Samuel and Ngalle Ngomba Eric respectively.
    However, some YCPDM militants expressed shock and disappointment that candidates vying for positions in the youth wing of the party must not be more than 35 years old.
    “In years past people in their forties and fifties were allowed to run in the youth wing; why have they introduced this age limit thing only now?” lamented a seemingly over-aged YCPDM militant, who regretted that many of his colleagues of the YCPDM who were also nurturing plans to take up elective positions in the youth wing of the party have had their ambitions short-circuited by the age barrier.
    Many grumbling YCPDM youths said their frustration was all the more because one cannot move from the youth wing to the main wing or the women‘s wing of the party and immediately want to boss those who had been there ever since. Besides, some ageing youths who must now move up to the main wing of the party but who still aspire to run in elections also admit that the competition at the “C” level is tougher than at the “Y”; they say their hope of rising to the top sooner than later might just be a pipe dream. 
    However, the Section President, Motanga Andrew allayed their frustrations when he explained that for those who are older than 35 years and who may want to move from the youth wing to either the WCPDM or the main CPDM wing, they should simply change their subscription cards while maintaining their membership cards which are the same for all militants.

    Motanga explained that the difference between “C” militants and “Y” militants is that the “C” militants pay higher subscription fees than their “Y” comrades. Besides, he said nothing stops former militants of “Y” who have just joined the “C” from contesting in the up-coming elections. 
    Comrade Motanga’s advise and encouragements notwithstanding, and despite the split of the Fako I section into three sections namely Fako 1A, Fako 1B and Fako 1C, many of the over-aged YCPDM militants (those above 35 years) still left the meeting venue flabbergasted and disappointed. And this was probably because of the impending political oblivion that they fear they may be flung into after the reorganization exercise.
    It should be noted that the frustration expressed by YCPDM militants in Limbe is not unique to them; it reflects the general frustration among CPDM youths across the country and even beyond. And the frustration stems in part from the fact that militants are not schooled or prepared for eventual ascension to the higher rungs of the party; things more often than not only happen by expediency.
    Worse still, many YCPDM militants do not know how to and what it takes to move over to the main wing of the party. At times a youth who is appointed to a big, lucrative position in the administration starts thinking himself too big for the youth wing and decides to start militating in the main wing, even though his age warrants him to militate but in the youth wing. Conversely, some over-aged youths who are not financially strong enough to stand competition at the “C” level of the party seek solace and refuge in the YCPDM, “until when their own time comes”, and that is when they too must have become “big militants” through political appointments in government.
    This reporter can still recall instances in the CPDM party where some body looses an election in the youth wing and out of annoyance and frustration he moves over to the main wing of the party and contests election for section president and wins.
    However, Andrew Motanga used the gathering to advice militants to guard against political adventurers who may want to seize the opportunity of the reorganization to acquire party cards, penetrate the party and destabilize it. He prescribed vigilance and proper verification of the militancy of every member before the elections into the various structures of the party.
    Being the outgoing section president, Motanga Andrew thanked militants for their support throughout his last mandate, saying that they may never meet again given that the former umbrella Fako I CPDM section has now been splintered into three sub-units.
    In appreciation for their support, Andrew Motanga offered a common meal which saw some militants fighting and scrambling over pieces of fish and chicken.