As Sierra Leone stands on the threshold of a lockdown, main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) faces the same fate owing to the hike in Corona Virus cases. The party recently put out its timeline for its lower level elections and convention in early February this year.
Its aim was to prepare the party for strong internal structures for 2022 and 2023 local council and Presidential elections. But, court matters stopped the party from rolling out its political activities, and later COVID-19 new measures.
According to NACOVERC (National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre), Sierra Leone is recording alarming figures of COVID-19 cases. Health experts confirm that the Delta variant is now here in Sierra Leone.
“…Sierra Leone is currently witnessing a third wave of COVID-19 pandemic. This assessment has been informed by WHO alert as well as thorough examination of the epidemiological data particularly for the last one month which strongly indicates not only exponential rise in COVID-19 confirmed cases, but also increased positive rates, hospitalisations and deaths,” NACOVERC press release of 17th June, 2021 says.
The Delta Variant which is the third wave of Corona Virus recently took a heavy death toll in India and other parts of the world. Few days back, the country has lost high-profile personalities thus strengthening fears and suspicions of the variant. As the virus spread, calls for lockdowns and curfews continue to make headlines in print and electronic media on a daily basis.
The calls, according to observers in the media and the public, are to make the country safe. Inter-district lockdowns in any country have negative impact on politics. In a lockdown period, it is just very difficult for politicians to access communities especially in the provinces for campaigns.
In the first lockdown, only vehicles of essential staff could travel to the provinces. Sierra Leoneans remain quite aware of what it means for a party in opposition. Opposition parties are always perceived by governments as trouble causers and that there movements have to be checked and restricted.
Some social commentators and observers have made it clear that lockdowns are imminent and government would soon make such proclamation. The calls for the lockdowns and curfews are now everywhere and authorities are responding to them.
Government’s response is seen seen in the promulgation of new measures contained in a press release of same date. The press makes compulsory wearing of facemasks in all public places and transportation.
The press release also calls for social distancing and hand-washing, restricting the number of worshippers in churches and mosques. Worship, according to the press release, should not exceed 90 minutes. The new rules ban clubs and cinemas for a month.
National Sports Authority designated activities and competitions shall be held behind closed doors without spectators. NACOVERC, the press release says, will enforce wearing of face-masks at shops, indoor and outdoor markets and crowded places.
The new rules are at complete variance with politicking but two remains the most horrible. APC has been caught by those two rules. The rules say: social gatherings including weddings, funerals, receptions, naming ceremonies shall not exceed fifty people with mandatory facemask wearing, social distancing and hand washing.
Large-scale entertainment activities or super-speaker activities are banned for a month. The last two rules, no doubt, will undermine politicking in APC. The ruling SLPP may enjoy a smooth ride. The party, according to Justice Adrian Fischer’s ruling, must have adopted the new APC Constitution and the party set for a convention in September this year.
The verdict however prohibited the participation of over 100 APC members including Chairman and Leader former President Ernest Bai Koroma and his Secretary-General, Foday Osman Yansaneh.
The two are influential figures whose inclination to remain active in the party is clear. The party has been battling with a lawsuit filed by a Sierra Leonean diaspora, Alfred Peter Conteh resident in the United States. Although the matter was nearing its completion, fear still looms as no move has been made for the adoption of the party’s constitution and to hold elections.
Now, new rules are here and a lockdown will soon be seen in the near future. Some prominent APC members who spoke to this press say the wrangling within the party is almost equal to stifling it. Grassroot members of the party are apparently less comfortable with what is going on in the party.
In a recent interview, one of them who spoke to this press made no mince of words about plans to take APC leadership to task. “If leaders in the party do not put the right measures in place for a convention, we the grassroot would soon take to the street,” he threatened.
The grassroot and members of Sierra Leonean public are poised to be redeemed from the bondage they have been held captive for so long. They have always hoped that it is only APC that would redeem them in 2018.
But, a fundamental question has been posed: How can a party seen as redeemer could not stabilise itself internally?
A prominent APC politician has told this press that he has never seen such political transitions in Sierra Leone. In almost all transitions, presidents who have completed either one or two terms take a complete rest when they hand over power.
Former President Tejan Kabba is cited as an example of those leaders who took his hands off politics after his tenure.
But now, he says, seems to be the reverse. The insistence of the former President to hold on to the forte after his tenure worsens a party that has been caught in imminent lockdowns and curfews.
It has been argued that government is ready to enforce these measures at all cost. Arguments on the other side however seems to restore hope in the APC. The election which took place in the United States was cited as an example.
Despite the spread of the deadly virus, America went into elections because they believe the power of democracy. In the race towards elections, former President Donald Trump was even infected in the process but elections were never derailed.
The elections went normal as a new President now reigns. Other countries in which the virus has taken thousands of lives hold elections. The arguments, examples and references make a strong case for normal elections to be held in Sierra Leone in the face of Corona Virus Disease.
A key argument by Legal Link, a body of lawyers is very much relevant here. The legal institution claims that COVID-19 related death rate has not reached 300 thereby calling on government not to embark on tough and rough measures.
The institution made the arguments following the issuance of a new rule that those without proof of vaccination must not access public buildings.
The move to put elections on hold and APC on the standstill was begun the previous year. In a press release, government was going to postpone the 2022 and 2023 local government and presidential elections to 2024 owing to the outbreak of Corona Virus.
The press release met with tough resistance from the diplomatic community. A counter press release from the European Union says all elections must be conducted within its stipulated time. Since they could not succeed in the postponement, government now embarks on subtle methods.