Mr. Zacchaeus Tanto Gwei was born on January 3rd 1932 in Ntumbaw to Gwei Muyob and Libu Kauten. He was the second of four children born to this couple, and 8 children to their father. Mr. Gwei completed his education in 1949 and joined the local government. He also went for further studies at the Buea Local Council Training institution at different times and earned the following:
1.Diploma in Community Development and Local Government (1963)
2.Diploma in Local Government Administration and Finance (1973).
He began work as a customary court clerk and rose to the position of a judge in the fifties. He worked in the Customary Courts in Mbem-Yamba, Nwa Sub-Division; Nfe; Mesaje; Mfumte; and Wimbum Customary Court systems all within Donga-Mantung Division. In the sixties he transitioned to the council. Initially, he was the Secretary/Treasurer of the then Warr Area Council in Mbot. He was transferred to Nkambe in the same position, to Akweto, and back to Mbot. In the mid-sixties he was promoted to Executive Secretary and transferred outside Donga-Mantung Division for the first time. He worked in several divisions in the current North West and South West regions: Mezam Division, Meme Division, Ndian Division, Menchum Division, and back to Mezam (specifically where he served two long tours in Ndop), before retiring from service when he was stationed in Nwa.
Mr. Z. T. Gwei was a devoted family man. He loved his family dearly and would do anything to protect the family. He was a tough disciplinarian who many times was harder on the children than one would have expected. He instilled honesty and openness in his children and younger relatives. As for his life with his wives, he set a shining example of the kind of unconditional love required to see marriage through good times and bad.
Mr. Gwei was very rooted in the community where he lived. He connected and identified with people like it was his second nature. He was always very jovial and established great friends wherever he lived. In Ntumbaw he was known as kilang (cerk, his first job title) who always made people laugh. Among Nwa people, they always called “Mangengeh”, the tough one, and in many of the other places, he lived, many referred to him as the one that brought development at the personal level, and to the entire local community.
Pa Z. T. Gwei was a charismatic figure. He had a commanding personality that was matched by his work discipline. He worked hard at everything he pursued in life and was a great competitor who wanted to be known as the person who did things right. That discipline stayed with him and he took it everywhere he worked. His desire for efficiency was remarkable; some loved it, but some complained that papa pushed too hard.
During his lifetime, his family, the Warr Ngwi of Ntumbaw moved several times. They moved from Njikansha, to Njimabah, and from there lived at Mbaka, before returning to the present location. During this time pa Z. T. Gwei was always close to his family. He acquired a plot at Ntumbaw market and built a house, later renovating that house as his permanent home. During the movement of the Warr people, he and the rest of his brothers from the Warr families the Fai, Ndzi, Ngwang, Gwei, and Yongka families all worked to resolve the differences between their Quarter head, Fai Ngafansi and the chief of Ntumbaw and of these families rejoiced because harmony had returned to the Ntumbaw family.
Mr. Z.T. Gwei’s achievements include the following:
- He took the lead in establishing the Baptist Church in Ekondo Titi (Ndian Division), which started as a prayer group in our house and then he asked Council for permission to use one of their buildings. He would eventually find a piece of land for the church to build its own building.
- He had a vivid vision on the role of education. He educated his children and assisted several to attain great levels of education and career building.
- He provided leadership in the community and in the church. When he retired and returned to Ntumbaw, his relatives and the people in the village had an opportunity to see him at work on the leadership team of Berean Baptist Church in Ntumbaw. Papa could have stepped back, but he remained engaged and provided much needed leadership to a growing faith community as he and others saw Baptist work in Ntumbaw and the Mbuntzi expand. He served as Chair of the building Committee that constructed the present Church building at Ntumbaw
- Labour Medal of Honor – for Meritorious Services (1977).
- Cameroon Order of Merit (Knight) Medal – for meritorious services (1984).
He is survived by wife, Mami Deborah Gwei, his sister Mami Magdalene Murkwi, his children: Mary Yaya Gwei, Godwin Muyob Gwei, Alfred Nfor Gwei, Genevieve Yah Gwei, Isaac Fonaka Gwei, Bernice Kenyuy Gwei, Victorine Yeye Gwei; his daughters-in-law Victorine Sheshe Gwei, Awah Gwei; and his grandchildren: Beri Manjong, Giyo Daiga Gwei, Stacey Manjong, Gillian Bonya Gwei, Kuyuh Muyob Gwei, Schuyler Keri Gwei, Julien Tanto Gwei, Shamma Grace Lokeh Gwei.
Mr. Zacchaeus Tanto Gwei had a great deal of faith and rarely missed Sunday school, let alone a Church Service. He was a devoted Baptist Christian who loved all the traditions of the Cameroon Baptist Convention. One hymn was his particular favorite, and I remember how he used to light up whenever “When Peace like a River” was sung at church. He truly believed that he could "pass through raging waters in the sea and not drown" because God was with him the entire time.