The Mayor of Limbe I Council, Mbwaye Eposi Florence, has, in an exclusive, in-depth, no bars and inspiring chat, presented a picture of her party- the CPDM, its National Chairman-President Paul Biya and her Municipality-Limbe I. Four years at the helm of the Council, Mayor Mbwaye says it has not been a bed of roses, but that God’s guidance, her humility and the spirit of team work has made all the difference, pushing the council to memorable strides in the last four years. The erstwhile teacher and staunch Presbyterian shared her experiences to The SUN’s Editor, Noela EBOB BISONG, in a scintillating conversation worth reading. Read on!
Thank you so much for receiving The SUN Newspaper in your office today. We want to start by finding out how Mayor Mbwaye is doing and the Limbe I Council as well?
Thank you very much. I am the Mayor of the Limbe I Council, Mbwaye Eposi Florence. As you can see, I am doing well and my Council is up and kicking. Everything is okay.
Thank you. We are in the period of a CPDM celebration, talking about the 42nd anniversary of the party’s Chairman as President of Cameroon. However, let us start by understanding a brief background of your political journey?
Thank you very much; I am so delighted with this question. Actually, I started with the CNU. I still have my little picture where I wore the late president’s (Ahmadou Ahidjo) fabric and in 1982 when President Paul Biya took over, by then I was a student at GTTC Kumba. We were so happy and I recall how we ran around the school campus. I later disposed of my little fabric that I had and went in for the new one carrying the new president. I have been in politics for 40 years. I started politics at a younger age when I used to go out with my Dad. (My Dad was a staunch politician and so each time he went out, I went with him). Later, I fully developed interest especially when President Paul Biya came to power and till date I am in the CPDM.
What are some of the positions you have occupied at the level of the CPDM?
I came to Limbe in the year 1984 as a branch president. After some few years, I was elevated to the post of sub-section president of Bonadikombo. Later on, I was elected as the vice section president of Fako IA in Limbe. That is how I came to be at the session level as an exco member. I think I have done a lot as far as CPDM is concerned because I took the party as my personal engagement. I also think that I have put in much energy at the level of the sub-section and at the level of the session in Fako IA.
speaks to The SUN in her office
What is your current position at the level of the CPDM in Fako IA?
For now, I am just the Mayor of a CPDM-run Council and I am at the level of the session. I work very closely with the session exco of Fako IA.
Lord Mayor, you witnessed the 1982 transition as a youth. How can you summarise these 42 years of President’s Biya’s leadership?
I think I have been moving along with President Paul Biya from 1982 and I can say that President Paul Biya is an achiever. He has done a lot in this party and country. He is the father of democracy. He opened his hands for other political parties to come in. So, I think he is somebody who loves competition. Paul Biya is a leader; not only an ordinary leader but one who knows how to handle issues. I quote an example of the Bakassi issue; many people thought the Bakassi issue was going to break into a real war, but the way President Paul Biya handled the issue as a good leader, ensured that peace prevailed. We became very friendly with Nigerians more than ever before and today we are habouring Nigerians in Bakassi without any problem. You will only know a good leader in times of crisis. Also, since 2016, when this South West and North West crisis erupted, he has been struggling to handle it with care. Some people feel that Paul Biya has not done anything but I think that when you are an advocate of peace, it follows your works. He has struggled to bring peace and that is the peace that we are enjoying today. Even if we don’t have 100% peace, relatively we are enjoying it nonetheless. President Paul Biya is a good leader, someone who gathers people. I think the only thing he needs is for people around him to tell him exactly what is on ground. He is a good father and once he gets the true information from ground, I think he will know how to handle the issues accordingly.
We understand that you have been a political child of the CPDM. What can you say is the difference between the CPDM and other political parties in Cameroon?
Yes, like I see some people crossing the carpet, from other opposition parties to the CPDM, it is because they have realised that Paul Biya is the only good leader. I used to ask the question: they talk about Biya not wanting to leave power; but when I see other opposition leaders, they don’t want to leave and that is how you see them fighting during their meetings. They have tasted power and they have realised it is not easy to leave it. Some of them, after struggling and fighting, then decide to come and join the only party that advocates for peace. It is difficult to see CPDM militants crossing the carpet to go to other opposition parties. And I want to thank Opposition parties because each time we have an occasion, they come and join us, because they know that CPDM is the only party that opens its arms to welcome everybody. Paul Biya is the father of everybody. CPDM is the most dynamic party that embodies everybody.
What is your message to your National Chairman as he turns 42 at the helm of the state?
The first thing is that, I wish my President many more years. President Paul Biya needs to stay in power to continue his good leadership. I wish him all the best and many more years, not just him but his family as well. He has a very good wife; what the wife has done and is still doing, in fact, I don’t think we shall have a president whose wife will do half of what Chantal Biya has done and is still doing. Taking care of orphans, widows, creation of schools for free education, she does a lot of humanitarian work and so, I feel that President Paul Biya having that type of a wife should stay there for the wife to continue working for us. So ‘Paul Biya, Obosso. You are a very good leader and father, thank you so much’.
Thank you so much, Mayor Mbwaye. Let’s now leave the national scene to come down to our municipality. From 2020 to 2024, four years at the helm of the Limbe I Council, how has it been?
Well, it has not been a bed of roses, we have many ups and downs, the challenges are there, but as a good leader, you should not cry openly. As a good leader, you just need to work with your councillors. I think I am succeeding in Limbe I Council as the mayor because I do a lot of team work. If I look at what I have done for four years, I think others could have done it for 20 years. My councillors appreciate me, the population of Limbe also appreciates me because, I started with social works and that is the idea of my success thus far. For my four years, I have concreted five communal roads and the people are so happy. I have opened three farms to market roads, I have rehabilitated eight primary and nursery schools, constructed five primary and nursery schools etc. So, the idea is to reach the population directly because when you do a project that benefits the population, it means something has been done. So, I look at those projects that benefit the population, not individual projects. I have touched the roads, schools, hospitals etc. If you go to Bonadikombo Health Centre, you will observe that I have constructed four Private Wards. At CMA Down Beach, I constructed and rehabilitated six Private Wards and bought new equipment like modern delivery beds, Echography machine etc. Also, at Bota Hospital, I rehabilitated six private wards. Though am not praying that people should die, but death is inevitable, so I constructed a befitting mortuary at Bota Hospital with a Dry embalmment Section. I want to inform the population of Limbe that we have a Dry embalmment Section at the Bota Hospital Mortuary, where a discount is given to the population. Also, I have financed NGO’s, CIGs etc, poultry and fishery farmers have also received support from us. Through the ministry of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, we have also supported some eight farmers with the sum of FCFA 1,250,000 each to fund their initiatives. We have also touched handicaps with tools and constructed a modern Youth Leadership Centre which is already operational. We hope to fully equip the Centre next year and build a fence around it.
Let’s talk a bit about the Low Cost Housing initiative which the council has engaged. How far has it gone?
I want to really thank the Minister of Decentralisation. Personally, am so pleased with this ministry because, it assists us with FCFA 100,000,000 yearly. This helps us to achieve a lot of projects. This is the only ministry which gives us a stable amount of money, which enables councils to make their programmes ahead of time. This 2024, I have constructed eight studios under the Ministry of Decentralisation, until tenants have occupied the structures. The ministry of Housing and Urban Development came up with this Low Cost Housing scheme to ameliorate the standard of living of the population. So, preference is being given to the less privileged and also council staff. The tenants are very happy because the houses are up to 50% cheaper than the rate around the municipality. Next year and the year after next, we are hoping to construct more of these buildings. The low cost houses have come to alleviate poverty.
What about initiatives like scholarships and holiday job offers. What has the Council been up to with regards to such?
Well, last year, we tried to give scholarships to about 80children and I still have hope that we will do same this year, even for a fewer number, especially IDPs. However, concerning holiday jobs, we haven’t engaged any for now due to budgetary constraints.
What is the current staff strength of the Limbe I council and what is the salary situation at present?
There are currently about 70 workers at the Limbe I Council and I want to assure you that if you are a leader who works with the fear of the Lord, you will succeed in whatever you do. We do not owe any salaries at the moment; I just cleared-off a four-month salary arrears of my staff. I give preference to workers’ salaries and I want to reveal that I have a very good Municipal Treasurer (MT); he works very closely with me, my deputies, SG etc. My MT has accepted to work with me in my vision of giving preference to salaries. You cannot owe salaries and expect workers’ output not to drop! I will say we are doing relatively well at the Council and I just pray that I should have something to give my staff by December with regards to Christmas holidays.
We cannot avoid the topic of Hygiene and Sanitation in Limbe I municipality and Limbe as a whole! What is your take?
Well, we should not actually expect Limbe to be the same as it used to be. Why, because, if we had 30,000 people in Limbe I Municipality in the year2014, I will tell you that the population now in Limbe has tripled! The number of IDPs that we have in Limbe is unheard of, because everyone wants to come but to Limbe. As I usually quote the City Mayor, ‘Limbe is a safe haven in a turbulent South West/North West regions.’ As the population is increasing, so too is the waste which emanates from daily activities. Nonetheless, the City Mayor is really doing some good works; HYSACAM too has doubled its effort by bringing in new equipment to address the issue. The City Mayor has brought in another Front Loader and fire-fighting equipment are on the way. So far, we have started addressing the issue of Hygiene and Sanitation gradually. However, I want to address the population of Limbe: You don’t expect that it is the Mayors who will come and tell you how to dispose of your waste! Before disposing waste, you have to select the decomposable from the non-decomposable right from the house before bringing to the street. How did our mothers dispose of their wastes back then? I don’t recall ever carrying dirt in a bag to dispose along the road, because my mother had her little corner behind the house which was a dumping site for our household. Right now we have Companies involved in recycling; select your plastics and fill in a bag and exchange for some cash, instead of filling gutters and drainage systems with plastics. The population should try at all cost to separate their waste before disposing. Secondly, they should endeavour to put their refuse inside a bag and then dispose neatly at a particular point or wait for the sound of the HYSACAM vehicle before bringing it out.
I recall Minister Nalova Lyonga, a Limbe elite announced a FCFA 3Million donation for the production of plastic bags to help households dispose waste adequately. Any idea on how far that initiative has gone?
I think Mami Nalova Lyonga is doing a lot. She has a programme of maintaining the roads from Bekoko to Idenau. So far, she is working with the City Mayor concerning the donation and I know she will accomplish it. Also, after the meeting called by Fako Senior Divisional Officer SDO to address the hygiene and sanitation situation, the MP of Fako East, Hon. Etombi Ikome Gladys gave the sum of FCFA 1Million to support us in the fight. The City Mayor and I have arranged a meeting to meet with all the quarter heads to restart the Cleanest Quarter Competition, as a boost to promote hygiene and sanitation. Also, All Mayors are planning to harness resources to put an end to the issue. In Limbe I Municipality, I have 74 Quarters in total (Limbe Central and Mile 4), so we are certain that the days are ahead will be engaging for all. As a matter of fact, I have made a promise to Fako SDO that come next year 2025, my Municipality will go in for the Cleanest Town Competition and I hope to reclaim our first position which is what used to obtain.
You came into the Council with a vision in 2020; how much of that has been realised thus far?
Well, I can say that I came here with a vision of portable water provision; I intended to put boreholes in every quarter. I had a slogan of ‘One quarter, One borehole’. So far, 8 boreholes have been constructed (some quarters are joined together). After the construction, I formed Care-taker committees which are now extending the water to various households. My focus was also on nursery and primary schools, that also is being achieved. Concerning youth empowerment which was also part of my vision, a Multipurpose Centre has been constructed.
I see so many awards and recognitions in your office. What is the secret behind receiving all of these?
Indeed, I have received a number of recognitions from the media and other organisations, including best female mayor, best mayor for good governance, VIIMMA awards etc. Currently, I have received more than 20 recognitions and most of them come from out of Limbe, from groups I don’t even know and I am just happy that it comes like that. It is not my making, but the Lord’s doing. I just understand from all of this that if you are a leader who wants to achieve many things, then you must operate in team work. Each time I have a task here, I fully involve my deputies, SG, General Affairs department, technicians etc. Even at the level of the Civil Status, I have received about four awards. We have gone digital at the level of our civil status but we are still putting the machines together. Last year, I signed about 80 free marriages. Right now, I have received 355 documents for free birth certificates which will be issued and handed in the days ahead. Registration for free marriages is also ongoing and so far 26 free marriages have been signed this year. I need only the couple’s pictures and copy of ID cards, I want to completely eradicate ‘come we stay’ in the Limbe I Municipality.
We can’t end this interview without talking about the challenges you currently face at the helm of Limbe I. What are some of them?
Indeed the seat is hot but as a child of God, I am coping. I have gotten my inspiration from the church. I think that if I am succeeding as a Mayor for four years, it is because of my spiritual background. Also, I have taught for 39 years as a teacher, so I have many of those things that are helping me to succeed at the helm of Limbe I Council. Teaching at the Nursery level for about 10 years, Primary for 10 years and the Secondary for 19 years, I think I am well equipped spiritually, emotionally, socially, academically to manage the challenges of this Council. So, I don’t really look at them as challenges because like I said, I operate on the basis of team work; I have a very experienced first deputy and SG who we work closely together to address issues. The secret is to stay humble in the face of challenges.
Mayor Mbwaye Eposi is also an elder and Congregational Chairperson, politician etc which gives you so much to handle. How do you manage your activities?
Well, I am also a family-oriented person. Some people wonder how I manage to handle the things I do in my church work, municipality and other activities. The truth is that, I manage my time so well. I sit and design my schedule for the day, week and month. I try to ensure that there are no clashes on my activities. For instance, a pastor told me; ‘I see you in all the rallies and you are usually the chairperson; in politics you are also at the front line” etc. I am that kind of a leader who does not indulge in social excesses. I enjoy myself when I am with colleagues and family and all of that is programmed. Proper planning is what is helping me to succeed even here at the Limbe I Council.
Who is Mayor Mbwaye Eposi Florence?
Well, I am 62 years of age and take note that I love cooking and sharing for people to eat and enjoy. I attended GS Bokwaongo where I obtained my FSLC. I lost my father when I was still very young, in Primary 2. I am the 5th child in a family of 11. My mom is now 88 and I am grateful to God. After completing Primary School, I was employed to teach at the same school (GS Bokwaongo), and my salary was FCFA 5,000, that was in 1977. I was of course happy with my salary because it solved a number of issues on my table. I later attended VOCAS Muyuka and later GTHS Kumba where I obtained my CAP certificate and then immediately enrolled to the Government Teachers’ Training College GTTC Kumba and graduated with my Grade 2 Certificate. I was posted to Limbe, Government Nursery School Bonadikombo in 1988. After some few years, I wrote the Teachers’ Grade 1 examination and succeeded and was then posted to GS Bonadikombo. I was later transferred to GS Mile 1 and later made the Head Teacher of Home Economics Centre of Bonadikombo. After two years there, the Home Economic Centres were closed down and all the Head Teachers were transferred to Secondary Schools. So I went to GHS Limbe to teach Food and Nutrition and Food Science. I was in GHS for almost 19 years and that is where I retired two years ago. After my retirement, I never knew God had something in store for me. Having been a councilor at the Limbe I Council, I moved from my retirement to become Mayor in 2020. I thank God for the strength He has given me and the wisdom because, when I left school in 1984 after President Biya took over in 1982, I started gaining more interest in politics and today, I am here. I have always been taking care of children. I have four biological kids, but there were 12 in my house; that set is grown and dispersed now, but there are still others at home, I cannot live without children.
Last Sunday, I was dedicated as a Synod Delegate, someone who represents the people of Fako South Presbytery at the level of the Synod. Fako South Presbytery is headed by Rev. Dr. Mokoko Simon Elive with about 33 Congregations. I work very closely with the Presbyterial Secretary, Presbyterial Treasurer, other Congregational Chairpersons, taking their worries up there and returning with answers. I am a Congregational Chairperson of about 1,500 Christians at Presbyterian Church Bonadikombo. As a spiritual leader, you have to be humble so as to be elevated by people. Humility is my secret!
I am grateful to all my collaborators, councillors, the media, the Divisional Officer of Limbe I, the SDO, Fako East MP- Hon. Etombi, etc, everyone who is here to make me stronger.
In politics since the 80s, we are now in 2024; how far do you still plan to go?
Well, I am always satisfied where I am; that is my principle. I am satisfied to be the Mayor of Limbe I and I just request that the population gives me my own one mandate because right now, I am only completing my predecessor’s mandate. So if God, through my people can give me my own one mandate, I assure you that I will be satisfied and will hand over the baton. It is always good to leave the stage when the applause is still high. So, my own mandate should be given to see what I can do. In politics, we can retire at any level, so, I have my own vision of going on retirement especially after my own mandate, except God will not want me to retire.
What is your message to the people of Limbe I Municipality?
I want to thank the population of Limbe I because they have shown to me that they love me because I can’t go through a week in this office without a tribal community coming to appreciate my work in this cosmopolitan municipality. I have a lot of feedback from my population and I just plead with them that they should continue to work with me in this manner and that they should continue to support me.
Thank you so much for talking to The SUN
Thank you very much for coming.