CAMASEJ at 30: National urges journalists to join professional associations, says association still on Wazizi case
By Nde Laura
In an exclusive interview granted to Cameroon Agency in his Yaoundé office, on the sideline of the association’s 30th birthday, the national president of the Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ, said there is a need for all journalists to belong to an association. This will help them to be identified and protected by their respective associations in cases where they are harassed or arrested by authorities, he said.
Citing the case of the late reporter with CMTV in Buea, Samuel Wazizi, the association is still doing its best to get answers although it seems to be a deadlock because authorities are not willing to provide concrete responses.
“The case was handled as a Human Rights case, he had the right to be heard in court and to respond to charges against him, journalists should not be intimidated and violated of their rights, the association on their part made all attempts to get in contact with his family so they can work together to get more information about his corpse but they all backpedaled, it is only the family that can ask the question on where his corpse is from the authorities.”
As CAMASEJ celebrates its 30th anniversary with a non-elective annual general meeting on November 26, 2022, the president highlighted some of its achievements and challenges, telling a CNA reporter that CAMASEJ has witnessed tremendous evolution since its creation some 30 years ago. It has moved from just a single come together to having six chapters with more than 300 registered members across the country.
In 2019, Jude Viban was elected to lead Cameroon’s most popular English-speaking journalists’ association. Three years down, Viban Jude says he is proud to count as an achievement, the creation of the CAMASEJ Solidarity Fund, which was put in place in May 2022 to support journalists in need and to improve their professional and social lives.
With regards to securing journalists’ rights and freedom of the press, CAMASEJ national president said the association makes sure it tackles the issue from the side of the authorities and the journalist themselves.
“From the authorities, we still insist on the need for freedom of expression to be guaranteed. journalists face issues of lack of access to information and legislation that compels authorities to give out information to them. The journalists on their part are been reminded of their responsibility to follow the norms and ethics of the profession,”.
The national bureau has always advised chapters to focus on the capacity building of their journalists through workshops and seminars. Viban Jude agreed that there are still some negative hangovers from the election that saw his ascension to the presidency of CAMASEJ. When CNA asked why some chapters seem not to stick to the rules of the association, he said,
“ I think it is still hangovers from the elections, over the years I have tried as much as possible to bring people closer, if some of them are not cooperating with the exco, I do not sanction but look at the area where the problem is coming from,”
Viban enjoined all journalists to unite for the betterment of the association and future journalists.
The commemoration is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at a hotel in Yaoundé under the patronage of Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute.
This annual General Meeting is aimed at evaluating the association’s achievements as well as looking into its challenges with discussions centered on “CAMASEJ@30, a new breeze”. Discussions will culminate in a Football match and a Gala night.
CAMASEJ has over 300 members in different cities like Buea, Bamenda, Douala, Limbe, Kumba, and Yaoundé.
Created in 1992, CAMASEJ has seen Presidents like the late Francis Wache and Nkemayang Paul, Ndeley Mokosso, Trisha Oben, Simon Lyonga, and incumbent, Viban Jude.
Recently, the association under Jude created the Francis Wache Award in print media in honor of the late Francis Wache, publisher of The Post newspaper.
