All is set in Yaounde, the nation’s capital for a thrilling march past at the 20th May Avenue on the occasion of the celebration of the 39th edition of Cameroon’s National Day on Friday. The final rehearsals both for the military and civilians took place at the Yaounde 20th May Avenue, yesterday, May 18. This was in the presence of the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o, the Director of Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic, Martin Belinga Eboutou, the Minister of Youth Affairs, Adoum Garoua, the Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, among other senior government, military and political officials.
The defence forces comprising detachments of the military, National Gendarmerie, Police, Penitentiary Administration, Customs Administration and ex-servicemen, rehearsed at the 20th May Avenue for the third consecutive time. Foot soldiers had to do the exercise two times. The Army Joint Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General, René Claude Meka ordered for the second round of the rehearsals to ensure that the defence forces put up a thrilling performance in front of President Paul Biya tomorrow, May 20. The motorised unit of the defence forces promises a marvellous display at the National Day celebration.
Civilians rehearsed at the Yaounde ceremonial grounds for the first time since preparations for this year’s feast started. Pupils from two primary schools from each of the seven Subdivisions that make up Mfoundi Division took part in the practice session. This was the same case for secondary and high schools. This implies that on May 20, 14 primary schools and 14 secondary schools will march past in front of the Head of State, Paul Biya, his special guests and senior state officials. One Teachers Training College and scores of higher institutions of learning both public and private will also take part in the 2011 National Day celebrations in Yaounde. Some 17 political parties, prominent among which were President Biya’s ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), National Union for Democracy and Progress (NUDP) and the Cameroon Democratic Union (CDU) took part in the general rehearsals in Yaounde.
What was specific about the rehearsals for civilian march past was the fact that effigies of the Head of State and patriotic messages on banners and placards were conspicuously paraded. Primary school pupils practised following the rhythm of patriotic songs they rendered. Secondary schools, higher institutions of learning and political parties rehearsed using music played by some of their bands, as well as music from the Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, Military and Police bands.
