Forty-one years after its creation in Bamenda on 24 March 1985, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement marked its anniversary with celebrations across the country. In Santa, Mezam II, the occasion took on a character entirely its own, combining the festive energy of a milestone anniversary with the focused determination of a party that knows the electoral road ahead demands its very best.

The event was formally opened by the President of the host sub-section, Mbei South George Taboh, whose welcoming remarks set the tone for a gathering that would prove to be as substantive as it was celebratory.

The celebrations unfolded against a backdrop of heightened political awareness. Nationally, the party gathered under the theme "Let us prepare to further consolidate the strength and position of the party behind the National President", a message of cohesion and loyalty that resonated with particular force in the North West Region, where the CPDM has been working steadily to rebuild and reinforce its grassroots presence.

The floor was then given to Tandong Iris Zoum, President of the YCPDM Mezam II Santa Section, who delivered one of the most animated speeches of the day. Addressing the gathering on behalf of the youth, he reminded militants that 41 is not merely a number but a timeline of continuity, stretching from the founding congress in Bamenda in 1985 all the way to the horizon of 2055. He drew a direct line between the party's history and the responsibilities of young people today, arguing that consolidation is not a once-a-year celebration but daily, practical work.

The women's wing added its voice to the proceedings, with its president Fonkwa Judith WCDPM reaffirming the commitment of women in the section to grassroots mobilisation, voter engagement and active participation in the electoral process ahead.

At the heart of the Santa event was Section President Mbah Shupong Michael, who used the anniversary platform with purpose and clarity. Addressing militants, elites and community members gathered for the occasion, he struck a tone that was both celebratory and forward-looking, mobilising all present toward the imminent legislative and municipal elections with a statement of intent that left no room for ambiguity : having tasted excellence, there would be no return to mediocrity.

The event was graced by a strong turnout of influential figures from the subdivision and beyond. Among those present were the Mayor of Santa, HRM Fon Samkie Elvis Gahnyam, who brought the weight of local executive authority to the proceedings, and Member of Parliament Honourable Kumasi Simon, whose presence underlined the parliamentary dimension of what the CPDM is preparing for in the months ahead. Regional councillors including Forjindam Clifford and other elected representatives of the section added to an assembly that reflected the depth of the party's institutional reach within Mezam II.

The anniversary also served as an opportunity to take stock of recent achievements attributable to the CPDM government in the subdivision. Chief among them was the newly constructed Babadjou-Bamenda road, a project whose impact on daily life and economic activity in the area has been palpable and immediate. The return of running water at Mile 12 and the development of Santa Park, both outcomes of the section's plan of action laid out during the 40th anniversary celebrations, were equally highlighted as evidence that the party's commitments at the local level are not merely electoral promises but delivered realities.

The anniversary in Santa came just days after the subdivision had hosted its Joint Section Conference, where militants had received a clear brief on discipline, financial mobilisation and electoral strategy. Tuesday's celebrations built on that momentum, giving party members yet another occasion to reaffirm their commitment publicly and collectively.

The broader picture from across the region reinforced the seriousness of the moment. In Bamenda, regional coordinator Philemon Yang set an unambiguous target, calling on all section presidents to work harder than ever to ensure the CPDM sweeps all 34 councils and all 20 parliamentary seats in the region. That ambition filters down directly to Mezam II, where the message from every speaker, every dignitary and every militant who took the floor was the same : the twin elections must find this section prepared, united and impossible to ignore.

Drums rolled, songs were sung and dance groups brought the kind of colour and communal warmth that no campaign flyer can replicate. But beneath the celebration ran a current of resolve that was impossible to miss.