“All through the years I have fought to have women’s talents recognized and for women themselves to be interested in politics. We have through seminars encouraged women to participate actively in politics, not only by going out to vote but also by adhering to political parties.” – Regina Mundi

iKNOW Politics: Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself? What has been your background prior to becoming a women leader? 

It is a pleasure and an honor for me to have this chance to tell you the women of the distinguished forum a little about myself. My name is Regina Mundi, Director General of Hoseana Enterprises Ltd and member of the Central Committee of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement.

iKNOW Politics: How did you become interested in politics and did you have a political idol that inspired you?

I was fortunate to be among the third batch of African students who studied in America under the African American Scholarship Program for American Universities. This scholarship scheme was initiated by President J.F. Kennedy. I studied Economics at Trinity College, now Trinity University. I am extremely happy to note here that the Hon. Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and the Governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius, are alumnae of Trinity College.

I mention Trinity College and my secondary school experience because these institutions molded me for leadership. While at Trinity, I spend most of my free time visiting Capitol Hill. My friends always took me to visit their Congressmen and Senators. I even had the chance to witness the House of Representatives in session from the balcony. Once I visited Senator Robert Kennedy and he sent me a letter with his very own signature. I have treasured that letter over the years. Being in Washington, DC in the sixties made me understand the importance of the voice of the people.

I came to Washington barely a year after the march on Washington by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and I lived through the Chicago riots of 1968 during the National Democratic Convention. Here one could see two distinct leadership styles: one led to violence and the other to peaceful and long term achievements. So when I returned to Cameroon I felt compelled to join women who were already in the field trying to improve the lives of other women. Shortly after my return a very remarkable thing happened. I met by chance a lady who was a legend to us when I was a secondary school student. Mme Joesepha Mua was one of the two first women in the west Cameroon House of Assembly. During one of the House sessions there was a very crucial matter to be voted upon. Mme Mua had just had a baby and so was thought to be unavailable, but to everyone’s surprise she left the baby who was just a few days old and went to vote. That single vote changed the course of our country’s history. From the day I met her she became my adviser and teacher. I shall tell you more about this outstanding woman at a later date.

iKNOW Politics: Were your family and friends supportive of your choice to become a woman leader?

Back on the field I started out as secretary of the women’s wing of the Cameroon National Union (CNU) in my sub division. My husband was very supportive when I informed him I was going to stand for election. He was a very soft spoken man with many ideas so we spent a lot of time discussing my political activities and he was always ready to advise me. At this point in time our country was a one party democracy.

Amongst its many objectives, the drive for economic development interested me most. I saw this as a goal that could be achieved at micro level. Women like Mme Anna Foncha, Mme Veronica Sangbong, and Mme Helen Monju had less formal education than myself but were doing great things for the women. So as secretary to one of these women I was learning.

iKNOW Politics: What were some obstacles you faced in your political career as a woman leader?

The executives of the party organized seminars and workshops for women on income generating activities. We pressured the government to construct farm to market roads. Farmer’s Cooperatives (I remember the very first one was to buy and market palm oil) were created and soon the Government was assisting groups.

One very close collaborator Mrs. Theresa Ngu, (who is now first assistant mayor in our council though of the opposition party), and I went wild creating groups who were registered with the administration and some of them converted to CIGs (Common Initiative Groups). Today there are hundreds of women’s groups in the Province doing all sorts of things from vegetable production to food processing to thrift and loan societies. In 1983 I was appointed by Presidential decree as Social and Cultural Affairs Adviser to the Governor of our province.

This is a “Command” post and I was the first woman to be appointed as such. Today we have women Divisional Officers and one Senior Divisional Officer. This was a very exciting position and through it I saw very many things to be done for women. Hence in 1986 I ran for the post of President of the Women’s Wing and won. The national party had changed its name from the Cameroon National Union to the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement in 1985. I was able to use my position in the Governor’s office to coordinate many more activities for the women. In 1990 Cameroon went back to multi-party politics.

I left the Governor’s office and concentrated fully in politics. In June of that year the National President Paul Biya in a televised address to the nation said “we must be ready for competition.” Though many people could not believe this statement there was no turning back. He was committed to making Cameroon a Democratic nation. Paul Biya came to power in 1982 and in his book Communal Liberalism he outlined his philosophy on governance: Moral rectitude, Social Justice, National Unity and Integration, and Economic Development. I read this book very diligently and was convinced, as I am still today, of what he expressed in that book.

iKNOW Politics: Are there specific obstacles that, in your opinion, prevent most women from becoming political leaders?

I remember some years back I was on the commission charged with screening applications for municipal elections. It was not only a battle to include women on the list but where to place them was a big problem. If the women were at the bottom of the list, which is what the men wanted, this meant that they would be the ones to be dropped off if more than one party had to share the seats. I got around such situations with the men by just keeping calm. I learnt this technique from our mother’s late mama, Elisabeth Muna.

She never raised her voice or got angry but got people to do what she wanted. I am still learning that tactic though. I used to keep a notebook of names and qualifications of women all around the province. So anytime the need arose for special talents I just got out my notebook. Actually even the men began calling me up for references. Women are talented and just have to build more self-confidence. They must believe in themselves rather than basking in the shadow of their husbands.

iKNOW Politics: Do you think that people, in general, and women, in specific, have enough access to information nowadays and why do you think it is important to have such an access? IF there is not enough access, what do you think can be done to increase information access and exchange?

Women will have to define their objectives and go for it. Once this objective has been defined she must then determine WHO, WHAT will help her attain it and HOW. The world is a small village today. So access to information is very important. This network iKNOW Politics is very good. There are many aspects to it and as time goes on a member would get to find out which feature is of most help to her. The time has passed when a woman can just get lost in her own corner. Interacting with others is a must. Just for the short time I have accessed iKNOW Politics, I see myself so empty and all of a sudden so much lies ahead of me waiting for action. The women in politics in Cameroon must take time off to learn to access the internet.