Prof. Martin Zachary Njeuma

With much love to my brother-in-law ZACHARY MONDINDE NJEUMA

My dearest Zac,

You were my brother-in-law, friend , mentor and father figure.  Even though
you had only two biological children of your own, you raised so many of us
like your other children.  I always felt very good when you referred to me
affectionately as your first child. This was indeed true in many ways.

From my tenderest age I cannot recall any curve l turned in life without
the sacrifice, love and firm support of my beloved sister Limunga, your
spouse , whom you lovingly called "my Limunga." When you married her you
unconditionally joined her to raise me.

You both took me to Yaounde before you even had a first salary or your own
children. What a sacrifice that must have been!  From then on you both
gave me the support and guidance I needed to be independent, competitive
and an achiever.  I particularly remain indebted to you for my well
grounded analytical and communication skills.  The first virtue I learnt
from you and sister Limunga was to invest in people and to look beyond
myself to be of service to the community. You were a very strong pillar in
my life and took great pride in all of my achievements. Coming to help me
relocate from Arusha upon a new appointment or tagging along my mum and
your mother-in-law to visit me   wherever my job took me where all
hallmarks of the very special relationship we shared.

Three weeks ago when   I came to see you in Yaounde, I could tell that you
were sick but I never saw death.  I was very encouraged by your phone call
to me in Kinshasa  only a few days before your passing that you were
getting better, not knowing that this was actually a parting call. Though  I
was very shocked with the news of your passing thereafter,   I  am gratified
and comforted by that undying mark of affection.

I thank God for the very exclusive things that He blessed you and your
progeny to achieve.  You blazed your very own historical trail and
thankfully lived long enough to see that your name and that of your spouse
have become household names not only in Cameroon but in the world.

The family will miss you sorely but we shall never forget you and you will
always remain someone whom I am very proud indeed to call my brother.

May God receive you and keep you under his loving and eternal care.

Your sister-in-law
Elsie Ngowo Effange-Mbella

Senior Gender Adviser

MONUC, Kinshasa, DRC

As a Historian, Cameroon has lost a great man. To all scholars of History in West Africa and abroad one of the greatest contributors has been lost.

His journey has impacted the lives of many and the depth of this scholar will forever be appreciated by many.

May he rest in perfect peace.

Peace

Ida

Dear Uncle Zac, I will be forever haunted by our last conversation on 15th April, just two weeks before your passing, the date I left Cameroon to return to South Africa. I had called you to say good bye and to implore you to be a good patient and to take your medications dutifully. After explaining some medical facts to you, you said, "...but Chinwe, those are still generalities: I want some specifics!" Vintage Uncle Zac! Did the medical world fail you? Did we miss what you were telling us that you felt? I believe the Lord just wanted you home and so He called your number, three weeks after your biblically-ordained life span of three-score-and-ten years. Go well, Uncle Zac and rest in perfect peace. My heartfelt sympathies to Sis Limunga, Embelle, Bonbankal, my Bohs Bernadette and Rosa, and the entire Njeuma family. We all loved you but God loved you more. I am sure that we will meet again in the sweet by and by.

Chinwe (for Carl and the kiids)

WHO Representative, South Africa

Hello everyone, this is auntie Bern. I know many have moved on to the next level but it took a lot of energy for me to get to this point of writing so bear with me. Let me start off by thanking everyone who has expressed their condolences for the passing of my brother or "my bro" as I often fondly referred to him. I want to extend special condolences to my nieces Embelle and Christine, to his wife Sis Limunga, and to all who are related or affiliated with him in one way or another. I know we all feel the loss based on how fondly people remember him when they communicate by phone or other media.
My heart is still aching and I choke each time I think of the fact that I will never be able to talk with him in this life again. The news of his passing came as a total surprise to me because the night before I had talked with my sister Emilia who had left Limbe only 2 weeks ago for Yaounde to help care for him after his most recent hospitalization. She told me that his blood sugar level on that day was 87 and I was very glad to hear that.  That night, I went to sleep hopeful that the above conditions continue on this positive pathway. Imagine the shock of waking up to the news that he was dead.

The fact that he was involved in many of our lives can not be over emphasized as many have indicated. He was there for the two landmark events of my life, the birth of my only child and my Ph.D graduation. He was the closest male role model I had growing up and from whom I inherited many positive characteristics. We did have our fights, nonetheless, but such issues were resolved, by mutual apologies that would melt everything away after our lengthy discussions. How I miss that already. 
" My dear Bro, I pray earnestly that you have found the peace that seemed so elusive in your final days. Know that the love and care that you showed to so many is rivaled only by your simplicity and down-to-earth spirit that transcended any human boundaries.

May your soul rest in perfect peace ".

Love always, Your sister Bernadette