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Cameroon Urges Women to Vote Next Week Despite Threats

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   YAOUNDE - Civic groups, political parties and the government are
   pleading for the women of Cameroon to vote in next week's local and
   parliamentary elections, despite threats by separatist groups who have
   vowed to disrupt the polls.

   Female candidates, and women who campaigned on behalf of others fear
   their efforts may amount to nothing if women do not come out to vote.

   Representatives of NGOs and government ministries are joining political
   parties at rallies in Cameroon's capital in what they call a special
   campaign for women to perform their civic duties next Sunday.

   Female candidate Alvine Yinda says she is impressed with the initiative
   because the absence of women at polling stations on election day would
   give men an unfair advantage.

   She says female candidates of her Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement,
   CPDM, have decided to encourage all women who registered to make sure
   they come out en masse to vote on Feb. 9, 2020. She says they are
   working with all contesting political parties to make sure women take
   part in the decision-making process.

   Mumah Bih Yvonne, national coordinator of the NGO Cameroon Women's
   Peace Movement, says their campaign is for women to support lists that
   have a majority of female candidates. She says these are the only ones
   they are sure can represent the views of women.

   "We need to be there so that we impact the decisions that affect us
   like women. If we need a health center or women need to attend
   antenatal in a certain area, a woman is well placed to understand the
   plight of women. Women have a different way of looking at governance
   but if we are not there to influence policies, how do we get that level
   playing ground that we (women) are looking for."

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