Hate speech caravan: Civic Watch, partners set to sensitize taxi drivers, lovers of peace in Buea 

Civil society organization, Civic Watch, through the defyhatenow initiative in Cameroon is partnering with the Member of Parliament for Buea Urban, Hon. Malomba Esembe, to co-organize a “Stop Hate Speech Caravan” to denounce all forms of hate speech in the municipality.

Story, Louvier Kindo Tombe

It is common to see instances of discrimination and the use of hate languages towards people operating in the taxi driver’s sector, usually leading to a negative and unsafe environment for both drivers and passengers. However, public transport drivers are an essential part of the society, especially as they are the first contact persons one meets upon entering a town.

Owing to the fact that drivers come from different backgrounds and cultures, it is important to understand the different experiences they encounter on a
daily basis. It is within this backdrop, that Civic Watch and partners are organizing the Buea caravan.

The one day caravan will be launched on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Check-Point, Molyko, and then move in a motorcade upwards to the office of the Divisional Officer (DO) of Buea Urban. The Drivers’ Union will lead the motorcade, alongside administrative, municipal and traditional authorities, accompanied by lovers of peace and well-wishers. The high mark of the event will be a public declaration and signing of the #HateFreeCameroon Pledge at the DO’s office.

This awareness raising tour of the Buea Municipality aims to reaffirm its long standing tradition as the “Town of Legendary Hospitality!”.

Buea is host to a buoyant tech economy globally known as the “Silicon
Mountain”, an ever increasing student population and a host of institutions and relics that attract people from different parts of the globe. The #StopBadMop caravan seeks to reignite the culture of social cohesion among drivers and the population of Buea.

ALL lovers of peace and well-wishers in Buea are encouraged to join the bandwagon and take little actions for peace by participating in this march.

Holding under the theme: #NaWeWe, in partnership with Drivers’ Unions operating within Buea Municipality; the partners of the event include: Cameroon National Union of Taxi and Bus
Drivers, (SN-CHAUTAC), Cameroon National Syndicate of Drivers (SYNCHCAM), Cameroon National Trade Union of Transport Workers (SYNTRACAM), Cameroon National Trade Union of Urban, Inter Urban and Truck Drivers (SYNATUIRCAM).

A host of traditional rulers under the banner of the Buea Chiefs Conference will equally grace the event with their presence and royal blessings.