ID Palava 3

Let me tell you, my people, about the latest saga in my life: "The Great Quest for the National ID Card." It's been quite the journey!

So, after I did all my online registration for the ID, paid my fees, and had my details taken, No id issued or printed, I decided to message an officer at the police station where I did my biometrics. I was told, "No problem! Just take a picture of your online form and payment receipt and send them to us on WhatsApp."
Well! As soon as I heard that, I did it immediately, thinking I was making real progress.

And then… silence. Complete radio silence! My phone might as well have been a stone. My messages were left on read, just staring back at me.
After days of waiting, I woke up one morning—the sun was already blazing without any mercy—and decided enough was enough. I said to myself, "Let me just go to the station myself and see what's happening."
And so the journey began!

I had to take a taxi from my end of Bamenda all the way to Commercial Avenue. That taxi was so packed, we were squeezed in like sardines! The road was so rough, the car was dancing around potholes like it was learning a new dance. I was exhausted before I even got to town.
From Commercial Avenue, I couldn’t find a direct bike, so I ended up walking all the way to the Governor's junction. The sun was beating down on my neck like I was a piece of yam frying in oil! By the time I finally walked into that police office, I was drenched in sweat.

But then, I was warmly welcomed! An officer greeted me with a smile so bright I thought my ID was ready and waiting. I explained my situation and showed him the SMS that had been stressing me out.
He kept smiling, nodded, and then pulled out a small yellow sticky note. He wrote a website on it:
https://www.idcam.cm/help

He said, "Just go to this website, enter your receipt number and your email. They will get back to you within 48 hours. Once they respond, we can proceed from there."

CHAI!!!!!! MY GOD!
I was speechless. I just stared at him, then at the little yellow paper, then back at the long road I had just traveled.
So… you mean to tell me… I spent all that money on transport? I endured that crowded taxi and that long, hot walk? All of that, just to be told to go back home and check a website—something I could have easily done while sitting in my house, in front of my fan, with a cold bottle of water in my hand?

WHAT KIND OF SYSTEM IS THIS?! Why couldn’t they have just told me this over the phone when I first called? Why did I have to waste all that time and energy just to be sent back to wait another 48 hours?
Ah, this country truly is a special place.

Anyway, the struggle continues. Since I’ve already wasted today, I guess I’ll go back home and wait another two days. If they don’t respond… well, you’ll see me back here for Season 2.
Bamenda, you feel my pain?