20/08/2026
A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE DR. PFUBONG SIMON MUNDI
Written by Dr Alphonse Alasla.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
— 2 Timothy 4:7
It is with a very heavy heart, but also with profound gratitude to Almighty God, that I pay tribute to my dear friend, brother and fellow son of Bambui, Dr. Pfubong Simon Mundi.
There are moments in life when words seem inadequate to express what is in our hearts. The passing of Dr Mundi is one of those moments. We know that death is part of the human journey, but when someone who has been such a significant presence in our lives is suddenly no longer with us, the heart struggles to accept the reality.
Today, we mourn the passing of a great man, but I also celebrate a life that was well lived, richly blessed and generously given to others. Dr. Mundi was a man who accomplished everything in his lifetime. For more than thirty years, he faithfully served the Government and people of Cameroon as an educator and administrator. His professional life was characterised by commitment, discipline and excellence. He did not simply pursue a career; he took it as a vocation. He used his knowledge and abilities to serve others and contribute to the development of his country.
A true son of the soil.
But for those of us from Bambui, Dr Mundi was much more than a distinguished public servant. He was a true son of the soil. His love for Bambui was demonstrated not merely in words but through decades of service. At different stages of his life, he accepted responsibilities that allowed him to contribute to the advancement of our community.
He served as President of the Student Union, {BUS} later became President of our Development and Cultural Association (BACUDA) and also served as Manager of the Community Water Authority { BAWA) . Each of these responsibilities required commitment, leadership and sacrifice. He gave his time, his experience and his energy to Bambui because he believed that our community deserved the best from its sons and daughters.
He was generous in supporting community initiatives and was always willing to contribute towards causes that promoted the welfare of his people. He understood that we do not live only for ourselves. We are beneficiaries of those who came before us, and therefore we have a responsibility to leave something worthwhile for those who come after us. That was the kind of man Dr. Mundi was.
A Devoted Husband and Loving Father
But perhaps the most beautiful part of Dr Mundi's life was not found in the offices he occupied, the positions he held, or the achievements recorded in his career. It was found in his home and in his family.
Dr Mundi was a devoted husband and father, and his love for his wife was particularly remarkable. Those who knew him closely could see that his wife was not simply his spouse; she was his companion, his confidante, his partner and an important part of his life's journey.
There was something deeply touching about the affection, respect and attachment he showed towards her. His love for his wife was not merely expressed in words; it was demonstrated through the way he cared for her, stood by her and shared life's journey with her.
In an age when the meaning of lifelong commitment can sometimes be forgotten, Dr Mundi gave us a beautiful example of what it means to remain devoted to the person with whom God has joined you in marriage. His marriage was a testimony to companionship, perseverance and love.
And to his beloved wife, I say: you were blessed to have walked this earthly journey with such a man, but he too was blessed to have had you by his side. Whatever the years brought the joys, the challenges, the successes and the difficulties you faced them together. May the memories of that shared journey now become a source of strength and consolation for you.
Dr. Mundi was also a father who took his responsibilities seriously. He invested heavily in the education and upbringing of his children and was determined to give them the best possible foundation in life. He educated his children to a high standard because he understood the power of education and wanted them to have opportunities that would enable them to stand confidently in the world. His children therefore remain one of the greatest testimonies to his life.
A Man of Faith
As a Catholic and a fellow believer, I particularly remember Dr. Mundi as a man who took his faith seriously. His faith was not simply something he professed with his lips. He tried to live it. His involvement in parish activities, his commitment to prayer and devotion, and particularly his participation in the St. Joseph Catholic Men's Association, reflected a man who understood the importance of his relationship with God. He knew that all our earthly accomplishments are temporary. He told me a year ago, when he got his diagnosis, that if this diagnosis is God telling him he has come to the end of the time God gave him in this world, so let it be. He knew that God’s time is the best.
Positions come and go.
Titles eventually disappear.
Wealth cannot accompany us beyond the grave.
But our relationship with God and the good we do for others will be our lasting legacy.
Perhaps the life of St. Joseph himself, a man of quiet strength, family responsibility, humility and faithfulness, provided a fitting model for Dr Mundi. Today, therefore, we commend him to the same God in whom he placed his trust.
Christ tells us:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even though he dies, will live.” John 11:25
These words give us hope.
We grieve because we loved him. But we do not grieve as people without faith and hope. We believe that the God whom Dr. Mundi served throughout his life has now called him home.
The Man Behind the Achievements
Those who knew Dr. Mundi professionally will remember the accomplished educator and administrator he was.
Those who served with him in Bambui will remember the community leader.
His children will remember their father.
His wife will remember her beloved husband.
His fellow Catholics will remember the man of faith.
But his friends will remember something else.
They will remember his laughter.
Dr. Mundi was a sociable, warm and friendly man. He enjoyed the company of people. He had a wonderful sense of humour and could bring laughter into a gathering. He belonged to several social groups and valued friendship and fellowship.
For me personally, this is one of the things I will miss most.
I will miss the conversations.
I will miss the laughter.
I will miss the friendship.
I will miss the warmth of his company.
And I will miss knowing that somewhere among us was a friend with whom one could share a conversation, a joke, a memory and the concerns of our beloved Bambui.
As a fellow son of Bambui and a special friend, I feel a personal sense of loss.
But I also feel privileged.
Privileged to have known him.
Privileged to have called him a friend.
Privileged to have shared a common heritage with him.
And privileged to have witnessed a part of his remarkable journey.
A Life Fulfilled
When we look back at Dr. Mundi's life, we can say with confidence that he accomplished much.
He served his country for over thirty years.
He educated and inspired others.
He served his community in different leadership capacities.
He supported the development of Bambui.
He raised and educated his children.
He loved and remained devoted to his wife.
He nurtured friendships.
He gave generously to his community.
He lived his Catholic faith.
And he enjoyed the gift of life and the company of those around him.
In that sense, Dr. Mundi lived a fulfilled life.
He has now reached the end of his earthly pilgrimage.
The work is finished.
The race has been run.
The faith has been kept.
And so, as difficult as it is to say goodbye, we can entrust him confidently into the hands of the God he served.
The Book of Wisdom reminds us:
“The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God.” — Wisdom 3:1
And so we pray that the soul of Dr. Pfubong Simon Mundi may now rest securely in the hands of his Creator.
To My Friend
My dear Simon,
I find it difficult to believe that you are no longer physically among us.
Bambui has lost one of her sons.
Your family has lost a husband, father and grandfather.
Your friends have lost a companion.
The Catholic community has lost a brother in faith.
And Cameroon has lost a dedicated public servant.
But your life has left footprints that death cannot erase.
You have left your mark on your family.
You have left your mark on your profession.
You have left your mark on Bambui.
And you have left your mark on the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing you.
One day, we too shall make the same journey you have now made. Until then, we shall carry your memory with us and give thanks to God for the years He gave us with you.
May your beloved wife find strength in the beautiful memories of the love you shared.
May your children find comfort in the knowledge that their father lived a life worthy of remembrance.
May the people of Bambui continue to honour the legacy of your service.
And may all of us who called you friend remember not only the manner of your death, but the goodness of your life.
As Catholics, we entrust you to the loving mercy of God:
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
May Our Blessed Mother accompany you to the gates of Heaven.
May St. Joseph, whose association you served with devotion, intercede for you.
May the angels lead you into Paradise.
And may Christ, whom you trusted in life, welcome you into eternal glory.
Rest peacefully, my dear friend.
Amen.
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