The CPDM party has made training of members a regular activity in its calendar.

As is the case with any organisation, training is a permanent activity of the General Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, explains Fru Jonathan, Chargé de Mission in the Secretariat for Organisation of the ruling party’s Central Committee. “The National President of the Party, His Excellency Paul Biya, has instructed special training sessions to be carried out in line with the animation of party activities on the field. Such training is carried out on a very regular basis,” he says.

Fru Jonathan points out that this is generally the case when some political, economic or social event takes place in the country. For example, at the end of every election, the CPDM organises various training sessions for its elected officials. Seminars for its Mayors are currently going on all over the country. As a result of the insecurity in the Far North Region orchestrated by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, the CPDM has been out on the field educating its militants on peace and security as well as the risks of Ebola virus contamination.

The CPDM on every occasion, and at every opportunity, has always transformed its encounters on the field into training sessions as is the case during the numerous Section Conferences that take place across the country all-year round. The subjects discussed during these training sessions are varied and tailored according to the context. Some of the subjects include the organisation and functioning of the party, party discipline, election matters (particularly voter registration) and the electoral process as a whole.

According to the Chargé de Mission in the CPDM Secretariat for Organisation, the party has been recording impressive results at various elections largely because of the training and sensitisation given to militants. “The CPDM is the best structured and only political party that covers the entire territory. Party discipline is respected at all levels and at all times. The infighting, divisions and squabbles witnessed in many opposition parties are unknown in the CPDM. Furthermore, continued training and sensitisation has created a high sense of awareness in the militants who participate actively and massively in all political, economic and social events organised in the country. Education of militants has enabled them to have a mastery of CPDM ideology, making them ready to defend it,” says Fru Jonathan.