Bamenda DDR Occupants to start earning

By Martial Gnoukapasi

Day old chicks being catered for at the centre

The Bamenda centre for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration's co-ordinator Kum Henry Ichu has said ex-fighters of the ambazonian struggle who long surrendered themselves and their weapons need to start making money, taking care of themselves and their families like every other  Cameroonian. 

"The children should be able to make a living for themselves. I spent 3months in the bush and I know what it's like to be in one spot for long and can openly tell you that it's not easy. These are humans and can't continue to sit like this, waiting for some policy to be designed" he said

To note that Mr Kum was speaking Friday July 15th after receiving a consignment of 5000 day old chicks accompanied by 25 bags of feeds he lobbied and obtained from the North West Livestock Development Fund (CDENO), Visad by the ministry of livestock.

Kum Henry (in suit) receiving the birds from CDENO's Director(in white)

He indicated that the children at the centre will be arranged in clusters, with each cluster provided with a considerable number of birds to cater for, including a good number of piglets he has also made available. 

The ex-fighters will manage the livestock sustainably and will sell and make some money for themselves once the birds are ripe for  market and consumption.  

This to him will permit the ex - combatants to be self reliance, enabling them to be able to cater for the needs of their love ones as well.

"My idea is to transform this place to a production centre and change the perception of people about the DDR. These children have already learn alot of skills from here and must be engaged to ply their trade. The delegate of scientific research was also here with inputs on how to grow corn seeds which the children mastered and will be able to supply home seeds in the nearest future" he added.

Some ex-fighters taking care of feeding their piglets at the center

Mr Kum Henry whose main preoccupation now is lack of space at the centre for the moment says those managing the centre will also take care of some of the chicks for a duration of 3 weeks before selling to the public.

The proceeds from the sales will go to the ex-combatants as he said.

Now 301 at the centre, the co-ordinator said he is working hard to ensure that those who've completed their training on tailoring, hairdressing, driving etc, have the tools they required to in order to be productive as well.

On why they haven't moved to their new site yet, the center's co-ordinator said the process was gradual as they now have 20 of the ex-fighters at the new center