Nation condoles with presidential couple

The entire nation represented by people from all walks of life, converged on Mvomeka’a, the native village of the President of the Republic, Paul Biya in the South Region last October 17 to pay their last tribute to the fallen mother-in-law of the Head of State and mother of First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya.

Though the funeral ceremony took place under tight security and total intimacy, the thousand mourners braved the odds to show to the Presidential couple that they support them both in times of happiness and sorrow.

During the funeral mass service in the presence of grieved President Paul Biya and wife, Chantal, the Bishop of Sagmelima, Christophe Zoa in his homily stressed that though the national mother-in-law of Cameroon is gone, “we should examine ourselves to see if we are living a life that pleases God so that when we die, we should be sure to enjoy eternal life with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”

Throughout the mass service, Mr Mboutchouang, husband of the deceased was sitting alone with the corpse of his late wife. He was accompanied to Mvomeka’a by a powerful delegation of family members from the West Region.

Mrs Mboutchouang Née Ndongo Mengolo Rosette Marie died last October 2 in South Africa at the age of 60 years after sickness and her remains were brought back home last October 13 and kept at the mortuary of the Yaoundé General Hospital from where, it was later transported to Mvomeka’a for burial in the family grave of President Paul Biya thereby translating the love and consideration the Head of State had for his mother-in-law.

On the day of the corpse removal in Yaoundé, uncontrollable tears ran down the cheeks of family members and well-wishers as the mortal remains of the mother of Cameroon’s First Lady were carried into her residence at the Bastos neighbourhood.

Mourners, especially women from the Grand West community in the Mfoundi Division of the Centre Region as well as family members, wailed immensely as the coffin of late Rosette Mboutchouang, covered with the flag of the country, was being transported to Mvomeka’a in the South Region at midday for burial the following day. It should be noted that the deceased’s lone daughter, Cameroon’s First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya was seen in the consoling arms of her step-father, Mr Mboutchouang.

At President Biya’s Mvomeka’a residence, the mother-in-law’s pictures were placed around the entrance of the gate, while banners and billboards messages from different communities such as the Bangou Council read “Mayor of Bangou Council, we will never forget you, Mama Rosette Forever.”

Reactions We came to condole with the Fon of Fons

Senator Fon Teche, President of NW Fons Union (NOWEFU)

I led the delegation of members of the North West Fons Union, NOWEFU to come and condole with the Fon of Fons, President Paul Biya for losing his mother-in-law and the wife, our First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya for losing her mother.

Our coming to Mvomeka’a is a follow up to the letter of condolence which we addressed to the Head of State. We decided to come here personally in order to assist him in burying his mother-in-law because we are aware that it is a hard time in a man’s life.

As CERAC members, we came to sympathize with our mother and President Ndoh Beltha, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister.

We came here to join our mother and founding President of CERAC, First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya in mourning for the mother who was also our member because I can remember her caring, receptive and gentle character.

I think we will miss her very dearly and we just wish that God will give the First Lady the strength and the courage because to loose a mother is a very difficult situation in one’s life. We also wish that Mama Rosette will rest in perfect peace.