“Parliamentarians Have Made Strides In Control Of Gov’t Action”

In your opinion, what has been the contributions made by parliamentarians to the advancement of the democratic process in Cameroon?
Before looking at the contribution of parliamentarians to the advancement of the democratic process in Cameroon, it is important to first clarify the notions of Parliament and parliamentarian. Parliament which is bicameral as per section 14 of the Cameroonian constitution of 1996 in its revised 2008 version is the organ upon which the exercise of legislative power is devolved. The two houses that make up the Cameroonian parliament are the Senate and the National Assembly. Section 20(1) of the Constitution makes the Senate the legislative house that represents regional and local territorial collectivities. The National Assembly on the other hand is an institution that represents the people directly as can be deduced from the mode of election of those that man it as defined by section 15(1) of the Cameroonian constitution. Parliamentarians are Cameroonian citizens who satisfy the conditions of being elected into the national assembly or Senate. The Cameroonian Parliament has adopted an Electoral Code and the General Code on Regional and Local Authorities.  

How effective have parliamentarians been in fulfilling their mission of controlling government action and voting of laws?
 The control of government action by parliament as per section 35(1) of the constitution of Cameroon consists in asking written and oral questions to members of government and in the formation of commissions of parliamentary enquiry with specific reference. To the above mechanisms, one can add   the creation of public awareness through media communications by Parliamentarians. Section 34(2) of the Constitution provides Parliamentarians with the possibility of giving a vote of no confidence to the Prime Minister and his government. Parliamentarians have made strides in the control of government action. This is the case with the SDF parliamentary group demanding for a commission of parliamentary enquiry to probe into embezzlement scandals signaled at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications then headed by Minister Munchipo. The action of the SDF MPs let to the trial and imprisonment of the Minister and the creation of the operation sparrow hawk to fight against misappropriation of public funds. It is thanks to late Senator Kemende of the SDF that some Senators who in violation of the law held both their positions as Senators and positions in State structures had to resign from those State structures. Late Senator Fon Victor Mukete of the CPDM questioned in very strong terms the manner in which the government has handled the Anglophone crisis, the unity of Cameroon and the decentralization process. 

Parliamentarians are supposed to  carry the aspirations of the people to government. Have they been reflective of this?
Some Parliamentarians by their interventions in Parliament and other actions clearly demonstrate that they are aware that they carry the aspirations of the people. Of recent we have seen opposition political parties in...