Ewi Elizabeth, 43, is a well-known political figure in Menchum Division of the North West Region. The former Social Democratic Front, SDF, First Deputy Mayor for Wum from 2002-2007, is popularly referred to as 'Iron lady' or 'Mother of mothers' because of her tough stance on local social and political issues.
Following her party's loss of the four local councils and two parliamentary seats in the division to the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, CPDM, in 2007, Ewi is ready for a comeback. She is running for Parliament in Menchum South Constituency against the CPDM incumbent, Wallang Richard Akwo.
The parliamentary hopeful says she has - in consultation with various community opinion leaders - identified and prioritised four main problems of the people: recurrent farmer-herdsmen conflicts, unemployment, insufficient feeder roads and drugs in public health facilities. The nurse-cum politician and social activist, says her training by various charities in development issues, conflict management, gender mainstreaming, HIV/AIDS prevention, poultry farming, etc, has prepared her for the high office of Member of Parliament.
Also to her credit, she believes, are her past efforts in seeking a lasting solution to recurrent conflicts between farmers and cattle owners, the creation of a women's empowerment centre in Wum and a community primary school in the town that has since been handed over to the State. Ewi Elizabeth and her alternate, Mbaka Nelson Nja, are running on the slogan, "Menchum, we can make it together!"
