Hate Speech Sanctioing : Dangling Implementation?

Unfortunately, hateful declarations and xenophobia, acts that spark tension, continue to be noticed in society. Expressions with a negative connotation or words that humiliate or reduce the dignity of a person, race, community or religion are being heard on a daily basis. The social media most particularly is flooded with these words and accompanying write-ups, which in effect add nothing to national growth as it rather renders fragile social cohesion in localities. This is awkwardly happening when there exist penalties to be meted on persons found guilty of hate speech. The December 2019 law to amend and supplement certain provisions of the July 2016 law relating to the Penal Code is very clear on that.  From interpretation, the law is intended to promote the spirit of peaceful living together and consideration for the human dignity, given that its sanctions are to scare citizens away from despicable pronouncements. It thus provides penalties to contempt on race or religion and contempt to tribe or ethnic group. 
Section 241-1 (new) states that whoever by any means makes hate speech against people or incites them to violence due to their tribal or ethnic origin shall be punished with imprisonment from one to two years and with fine of FCFA 300,000 to three million francs.  Where the author of the hate speech is a public servant as per the provisions of Section 1361 of the Penal Code, a leader of the political party, of the media, of a non-governmental organisation or a religious institution, the punishment shall be doubled and the benefit of mitigating shall not be given. There are other penalties for those found guilty, depending on the context and target of the hate speech. In addition, Article 8(3) of the April 2015 law regulating audio-visual activities in Cameron stipulates that the content of programmes is not supposed to incite hate,...