Characterised by uncordial relations

Lower and higher rungs of Cameroon’s political parties do not often relate to one another in cordial terms.

Understandably, managing political parties is not a mean task anywhere in the world. This is especially true for large parties with wider geographical spread or cover.

Ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of such heavy party machinery demands more than just having physical presence in most parts of the targeted constituency or coverage area. Efficient organisation, aided by good relations, is also needed.

However, experience in Cameroon since the re-introduction of multi-party democracy in 1990, shows that relations between the lower and upper rungs of many political parties have not often been smooth.

While grassroots structures like cells or wards are in direct touch with the public, reaching out to potential members and educating existing ones, the party leadership tends to do more of administrative work and policy formulation. It is therefore incumbent on the two sides to work together as much as possible in the overall interest of their political party.

Normally, many officials should rise through the ranks of their parties to senior positions. It is possible to find someone who has risen from ward chair to electoral district head, and finally a Councillor, Mayor, Member of Parliament, (MP) or Senator. Some have even gone up to become national party executive members.

On the other hand, some people begin their careers midway by joining parties and seeking elections as mayors or MPs without any prior experience in these parties.

There have even been instances where some people only identified with particular parties after being appointed to big positions like General Managers of corporations, Directors in ministries or even cabinet ministers. A number of reasons explain the often-tense relations between political party field staff and national executive.

Some local officials tend to see those sent from headquarters for particular field activities as ‘rivals;’ allegedly because of their ‘overbearing’ attitude and tendency to seize the limelight from “those who have been doing all the work on the ground.”

For example, the ‘visitors’ are often accused of imposing their preferred candidates or themselves doing everything to stand for elections; thereby blocking the way for local officials who are better known to electorate.

Thus, urban-based party elite and officials are wont to use their huge financial means to have their way, consequently marginalising those who ought to be the local mouthpieces of their parties.

But as Cameroon’s nascent democracy becomes gradually enrooted, many political officials – lowly and highly placed – are beginning to realise that it is in their interest to work together as closely as possible. This is for the good of their personal political careers and fortunes of their parties.