A general rehearsal to assess the level of preparedness took place yesterday at the May 20^th Avenue.

The civilian march-past for the 44^th National Day on May 20, 2016, promises to be exciting and colourful. The last rehearsal grouping celebrations all institutions selected to march on the day took place yesterday at the May 20 Avenue in the presence of the Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic, Martin Belinga Eboutou and a host of other cabinet ministers. The general rehearsal was to enable officials evaluate the level of march-past preparations ahead of the National Day, which will be celebrated this year on the theme “Defence Forces and the dynamic forces of the nation standing together to combat terrorism and preserve peace and territorial integrity”.

Yesterday’s rehearsal gave a foretaste of the expected performance to come May 20. The civilian march-past in Yaounde will be opened with a banner announcing the event followed by a giant flag to be carried by over 25 male students of the National Institute of Youth and Sports (INJS) with yet another group carrying placards representing the ten regions of the country. Students of the Advanced School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) with their spectacular footsteps would follow suit before giving way to the Basic Education sector.

Fourteen Basic Education establishments, two schools (one government and one private) from each of the seven sub divisions that make up the capital city are expected to march-past in front of President Paul Biya who will chair National Day activities in Yaounde. The same applies for the Secondary Education sector where two schools represent each sub division. What is spectacular is the dexterity with which these young Cameroonians swing their arms to match their footsteps while singing the unique song chosen for the event.

The song sung in English and French, celebrates Cameroon’s unity and national integration and the mobilisation behind the Head of State and Commander of the Defence Forces in the fight against terrorism as suggested by the theme.

For Higher institutions of learning, over a dozen from both the government and the private sectors will also take part in the march-past. Unlike the elementary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions will march with music animation from their respective bands. Political parties represented in parliament are not left out in the march-past as they are also sharpening skills in a bid to outshine each other on May 20 in Yaounde where all is now set for the civilian march-past which promises to be thrilling.