BY SIMON NDIVE KALLA
Members of the Divisional Syndicate of Agricultural Workers in Fako, DISAWOFA have mandated their executive committee to do everything possible to meet the competent state authorities of Cameroon and their partners to facilitate an end to the ongoing Anglophone crisis now transformed into an armed conflict which is affecting the CDC, PHP and other companies through a pacific means.
This decision was taken during DISAWOFA’s second ordinary congress and their 15th anniversary celebration that took place on Thursday April 25, 2019 at the conference Hall of the Sea house hotel in Ngeme under the theme “Building a strong and independent trade union to promote decent work”.
Another important decision taken during the congress was to transform DISAWOFA from a divisional to a national trade union to protect the interest of its members nationwide.
To that effect, the name of the trade union was modified from DISAWOFA to CAAWOTU meaning Cameroon Agricultural and Allied Workers Trade Union.
Representing the Minister of Labour and Social Security was the chief of brigade at the delegation of labour and social security for the south west region in Buea, Guiraud Raissa who appreciated the efforts of the trade union in assisting the minister to fight for the rights of workers.
She said the congress is a symbolic one because the association is an independent one that helps in democracy and the development of the country. She urged them to continue working for the good of its members and take the association to higher heights by sticking together.
The president of DISAWOFA, Gabriel Mbene Vefonge in his welcome address expressed his joy for the presence of most of the members to the congress.
He stated that the second ordinary congress is to take stock of what has been done for the past 15 years and come together to propose to the state and partners like ILO so that they can be able to come out with a mediating force to bring peace to Cameroon, because most of their workers in plantations cannot go to work due to the sporadic gunshots day in day out and attacks on workers by separatist fighters.
He said the trade union thinks it is time to raise their voices and call for a ceasefire to the Anglophone crisis which has lasted for over two years which has led to unpaid wages of some workers which to him is unbearable.
And if something is not done workers risk losing their jobs and the trade union might even be closed.
He appealed to members, to be members and sympathizers to be patience for there is time enough to unite and build up better strategies for the good of the association, meet up with the challenges ahead of them.
He added that they are anticipating building stronger forces, bringing partners on board to ensure that workers are always protected. Most of the partners thanked the president of DISAWOFA and his members for organizing the congress to strategize despite the challenges that are always there.
DISAWOFA was created in 2004 with the approval of the minister of labour and social security at the time due to the failure of the unions then to represent workers.
According to Mbene Gabriel, the association had many challenges when they just started but their breakthrough came in 2008 and since then, they have been growing from strength to strength.
He stated that the Association is being represented all over Fako in four different companies and all the courts in the division. He added that they also look into the grievances of workers concerning their jobs as they equally represent workers at the anti-corruption unit in the ministry of labour and social security.