Customary courts’ system in West Cameroon: reforms and conflict with the federal administration

This article discussed the customary courts’ system in West Cameroon from 1961 to 1968. It argued that these institutions or system of justice was inherited from the British colonial authorities in 1961 by the Federal government of Cameroon. It further held that it continued without any interference from the Federal Government in West Cameroon until 1966, when the former favoured reforms that could reduce their authority (Customary Courts). It called for the reduction of their powers and a transfer of the control of these institutions from West Cameroon Ministry of Local Governments to the Federal Ministry of Justice. This was rejected by the West Cameroon Government which instead instituted reforms that were to make them more productive. It was due to these efforts by the West Cameroon Government that these institutions survived and were not infiltrated by the Federal Administration until the unification of Cameroon in 1972.Keywords: Conflict, Customary Courts, Federal Government, Reforms and West Cameroo

Interests Determining friendly relations between the German Colonial Authorities and the Chiefs of Wum Area, Kamerun

The paper argues that German colonial interests determined the nature of relations with chiefs. Where colonial policies were welcomed and protected wholeheartedly by the colonized, they became friends to the Germans and when they acted ultra-varies they were considered enemies. Collaboration from the Cameroon Chiefs came not because they cherished the Germans but because of fear of reprimand. This explains why the chiefs of Wum, Area disserted the Germans and went in support of the invading Allied Forces in 1916 hoping that they would be saved from the highhandedness of the Germans

Colonial Policy of Power Devolution in Southern Cameroons and Ambivalence of British Intentions

This article examines the efforts made by the British colonial authorities in the devolution of power to indigenes in British Southern Cameroons. With the ousting of the Germans in 1916 and establishment of British rule, the Indirect Rule System was introduced and Native Authorities were created all over the territory and empowered to manage local affairs. After the Second World War, these units were granted more autonomy and authority in the administration of their areas of jurisdiction. They collected taxes, administer justice and provided local services to their people. Though attempts were made at devolving power, the British intentions were ambiguous as the process had some socio-economic undertones. However vague their intentions were, they initiated the indigenes into the skills of modern governance

Proliferation of native courts in Wum District, Southern Cameroons, 1921 – 1939

The paper discusses the proliferation of native courts in Wum District from 1921 to 1939. Using mostly archival materials from the Buea National Archives and the thematic and chronological approaches in analysing data, it argues that ethnic differences, communication difficulties and the feeling of superiority by some chiefs over their counterparts brought disunity and inefficiency and the management of the affairs of the courts became derisory. This therefore necessitated the creation of more institutions in order to minimise these problems. In spite of this move, arrogance, pride and attempts at dominating some court members especially those hosting the institutions as well as injustices perpetuated by some judges on litigants, led to requests for the creation of new courts by clans as the only means through which these vices would be avoided. It was because of these factors and requests from the people of Wum District that the Weh native court that served the entire District was dissolved and those of Wum, Fungom and Bum created in 1928. The creation of these courts never satisfactorily took care of the problems hitherto experienced in the Weh court as the Wum court was subsequently split into two, Mukuru and Aghem. The Fungom court also witnessed structural changes as its headquarters was moved from Fungom village to Zhoa. This Court in Zhoa became a court of Appeal for the Fungom area and four minor courts were further created to serve this administrative unit

Impedes to effective collection of local government revenue and effect on service delivery in Cameroon: an appraisal of the situation in the Wum Central Council, 1965 – 1974

Local Governments have increasingly been granted fiscal autonomy in order for them to be effective in the provision of services to their citizens. However, the inability of these institutions to effectively collect revenue in Cameroon has hampered service delivery. Following the case of the Wum Central Council, the study holds that tax evasion and defaulting, migration and the diversion of revenue to other Local Government areas as well as underpayments of court fines, fees and charges are some of the major factors that have worked against the smooth collection of revenue. Added to these, the failure of the central authorities in paying rents on Local Government buildings occupied by state departments made it impossible for these institutions to achieve their tax collection objectives. Apart from the government and tax payers, the lackadaisical attitudes of tax collectors, concealment, embezzlement and misappropriation of collected revenue became some of the factors that encumbered the proper collection and realisation of revenue in the Local government area. These factors made it impossible for the Wum Central Local Government to effectively deliver services as their budget were in perpetual deficit forcing it to abandon or under provide social and economic services to citizens. In spite of the poor state of Local Government finances and inability to provide services effectively between 1965 and 1974, some strides were made in rejuvenating the efforts of these institutions in that direction