Ever since the opening of the 2017 parliamentary session of the National Assembly and that of the so-called Senate, MPs and Senators have not received any bills or hold any discussions with a cabinet minister.  A CPDM MP was heard murmuring privately that the nation is at the mercy of Biya and his appointees.  MPs and Senators have not attended the hemicycles since the opening of the parliamentary session on March 10th.

Apart from the empty pro Francophone speeches made by the two known Southern Cameroon traitors passing for deans of the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament, no bill and even oral questions have been addressed to the members of the government. The two legislative bodies were yet to renew the mandate of their respective bureaus amid speculation that the regime intended to get rid of either the Senate or the parliamentary speaker.

A lot of tongues have been wagging on the inactivity of both houses. This same time last year, the elections of the various offices had already taken place. The elections finally held yesterday March 21^st and the Head of the Senate, Marcel Niat was reelected while Chief Tabetando replaced former Prime Minister Musonge as leader of the CPDM Senate group. A crisis erupted in the Lower House that involved opposition MPs and the out-going House Speaker, Cavaye Djibril. Cavaye was finally reelected and it is hope that the elections will thus pave the way for an intense activity of both the parliamentarians and the Senators.

The current inactivity will have an impact on the course of the rest of the parliamentary session. MPs and Senators have just three weeks to question the members of the government, to examine the bills that will be tabled and to conduct the activities of both houses.  Some parliamentarians will be demanding that the sessions be longer for a better performance.

By Rita Akana