Cameroonians demand change—while clinging to corruption

In a searing opinion piece, high school teacher and political observer Armand Noutack II dismantles the hypocrisy paralyzing Cameroon. He argues that citizens from all walks of life—whether in power or opposition—actively sabotage progress through systemic graft, fraud, and self-interest.

Change only when it doesn’t hurt

Noutack II questions why Cameroonians resist even basic reforms like auditing state payrolls. He points to a culture where people demand change but recoil when asked to relinquish their illicit gains. ‘Do we truly want change, or do we just want to keep stealing?’ he challenges.

He highlights absurd contradictions: officials who flee abroad while relatives collect their salaries, business owners who evade taxes yet demand better governance, and public servants who exploit their positions for personal enrichment. ‘You demand change but sell expired goods, falsify utility meters, and harass students—what change do you expect?’ he asks.

The rot runs deep

Noutack II doesn’t spare anyone. He critiques:

• Opposition figures who publicly denounce the government but privately lobby ministers for favors, securing lucrative contracts they execute poorly.
• Commercial actors who defraud customers while chanting for democracy, comparing Cameroon to Senegal with no action to match.
• Public servants who embezzle funds while crying for change from abroad, their hypocrisy laid bare by social media posts.
• Professionals like doctors and police who prioritize personal profit over public duty, and journalists who shape narratives based on bribes.

‘Corruption isn’t just in the halls of power—it’s embedded in our daily lives,’ Noutack II asserts. ‘We are all complicit.’

A damning verdict: ‘We are all corrupt’

His message is unequivocal: genuine change requires more than ousting leaders. Cameroon must confront its collective moral decay—a web of corruption that has festered for over four decades. Until citizens reject graft in all forms, progress will remain a mirage.

Noutack II’s parting words: ‘If you cannot embody the change you seek, remain silent. Start by returning what you’ve stolen—then demand accountability.’

He urges Minister Motaze to expand audits across all sectors to expose and punish corrupt actors at every level. The path to renewal begins with accountability, not slogans.