A Big Question mark hangs on the re-opening of Sierra Leone’s parliament after a month-long recess as a Commonwealth-brokered mediation is underway.
12th October today had been recently set aside for the opening of the legislative house according to parliamentary authorities who spoke to this press.
June-24 election is still considered fraudulent as it is riddled what observers refer to as “statistical inconsistencies” and “mathematical inaccuracies” and parliament must be suspended for the mediation to go on well.
The current parliament, by all standards, is illegal owing to the unacceptable outcome of the election and cannot function smoothly until the conflict is resolved.
Parliament, political analysts say, is confronted with several challenges especially absence of a two-third majority despite the number of seats they occupy.
Parliamentary committees, at the moment, are not properly constituted, and there is no Sierra Leonean representation at EU, ECOWAS, Commonwealth and AU parliaments as one-party delegations are not accepted.
It will also be difficult for agreements and contracts to be endorsed if parliament remains in its current state.
Loans, grants and donations will also cease and no debate takes place as paramount chiefs stand on government’s side. Enactment or amendment of laws also will be difficult since SLPP does not constitute a parliamentary majority.
According to the 1991 Constitution, any amendment of an entrenched clause without two-third majority amounts to treason. Should SLPP parliamentarians decide to bulldoze as usual, their actions will be rejected outright in the future when a legitimate government shall have been restored. They also run a risk of facing justice for their actions and one day is one day.
However, there has been no vote and or proceedings for members of parliament which, in their opinion, is a clear manifestation of a shaky house. International community however continue their call on the authorities to promote peace and national cohesion, put back the country on track so that it is not deprived of funds.
Concerns of the opposition, All People’s Congress, according to the analysts must be addressed if Sierra Leone is to get back to normalcy. APC had earlier demanded the resignation of the election chief, Mohamed Konneh and other commissioners owing to bias in the conduct of their duties.
The issue, they emphasised, should not be swept under the carpet but must be resolved once and for all.