Decentralisation: Will it Really Work?

The advent of effective decentralisation in Cameroon from January 2010 as promised by government is generating hopes and expectations but also scepticism. A wide range of debates on its feasibility has engulfed politicians, administrators, experts and the civil society. Optimists believe its implementation would dramatically strengthen the backbone of development. Pessimists claim it is similar to the present state of affairs and the government is using it to manipulate Cameroonians.

According to Mr. Emile Njounkeng, South West Regional Chief of Councils, there would be considerable improvements, especially within the ambits of local council governance. In a discussion with The SUN, Mr Njounkeng stated that there shall be a transfer of competence to the local councils to target developmental efforts notably in the fields of education and health. Councils would control larger budgets aimed at creating new development opportunities in the various municipalities.

On his part, Mr John Gemandze, UB Lecturer, Department of Political Science and Public Administration said decentralisation as a process has started already. However, what would happen in January 2010 is the last phase of the process, which he described as fiscal decentralisation. He said this would have a great impact in council administration since mayors would have financial autonomy to create and execute projects. Mr Gemandze pointed out that mayors should be careful with this new dispensation because the funds that may be provided would be below their present expectations. Thus they ought to look for more revenue-generating milieus to balance the situation in case of any eventuality.

Meanwhile, Mr. Njounkeng revealed that the new order would equally empower the mayors who would be able to scrutinise the activities of municipal treasurers on a daily basis. He noted that mayors would be suspended in cases where the budget of a council is not voted on time. This he said would fight the laxity existing in councils.
The mayor of Kumba III Council said he could not judge if decentralisation would be successful or not. He believes the Head of State has a vision to transform the nation, but the officials responsible for the whole process to become effective may either make or mar.

Mr Fidelis Fonkwa, Trainer at CEFAM, Buea, noted that the actual implementation of fiscal decentralisation would only take place in 2011. Mr Egbenchong, an NGO leader advised that mayors need to be involved in sensitisation campaigns in order to fully embrace decentralisation. He said failure to sensitise the various stakeholders would be catastrophic.

The 1996 Constitution of the country talked of a Unitary Decentralised State but the Laws ...on Decentralisation that spelt out the organisation and functioning of Regional and Local Councils were only passed in 2004. Still, the first signs that government was serious about implementing the policy emerged last year with the changing of the appellation of Provinces to Regions. Nothing, however, changed substantially as the putting in place of the Regional Councils has been pushed to the backburners, just like the Senate. In its usual very cautious approach, gov't seems to have resolved to begin the experimentation of the exercise with Local Councils.

Early this year, the National Decentralisation Council headed by the Prime Minister swung into action, apparently responding to pressure from international partners, who have committed technical and financial resources to the process. All of a sudden, the government announced by mid-year that the decentralisation process will begin effectively next year. The administrative and financial regimes of the process have been put place but at the level of the councils very little suggests that decentralisation is coming.

Critics have all along blamed the slow pace of the process on unwilling Yaounde politicians who are reluctant to see the enormous power and privileges they wield cut back and transferred to the periphery. With an unclear system of budgeting, many think Yaounde would be taking with the left hand what it gives with the right.
The question therefore hangs: Will decentralisation really work come 2010?

The mayor of Kumba III Council said he could not judge if decentralisation would be successful or not. He believes the Head of State has a vision to transform the nation, but the officials responsible for the whole process to become effective may either make or mar. Mr Fidelis Fonkwa, Trainer at CEFAM, Buea, noted that the actual implementation of fiscal decentralisation would only take place in 2011.

Mr Egbenchong, an NGO leader advised that mayors need to be involved in sensitisation campaigns in order to fully embrace decentralisation. He said failure to sensitise the various stakeholders would be catastrophic.

By Mbenju Mafany & Norbert Wasso Binde