By: Mohamed Jalloh
The name Marcella Samba has lost all ethical considerations of integrity within the civil society landscape.
A significant number of civil society groups have queried the veracity of her statements when demystifying on national issues.
Allegations keep propping that she is a lackey of the main opposition who is bent on causing disaffection on the minds of citizens against the Bio led government.
In that regard, her independence in apolitically dilating on national issues has been endangered.
In fact, she has assumed the role of spokesperson for the main opposition APC which has unduly rendered her voice on national of no effect.
Despite trying to conceal her political objectives, people reading between the lines describes her as an ant in a mole within the civil society fraternity.
Moreover, her honesty and uprightness in how she managed the National Elections Watch (NEW) is nothing to write home about.
Concerned members of NEW have accused her of failing to account for donor funds meant for the running of the organization.
This means her standing in representing NEW as a moral national voice has been rendered null and void.
Apart from marginalizing other members of NEW, she is bent on running the organization as her chattel possession.
The National Elections Watch is a conglomerate of over 100 Civil Society Organizations (CSO`s) whose key mandate is elections observations.
Its composition and constitution presuppose an organization of a national character that must be representative of different views and opinions.
But Madam Samba thinks her pontification on national issues is beyond criticism.
How can she claim to speak on behalf of the organization without seeking the genuine views of other executive members of NEW?
Concerned members of NEW has borne the brunt of her deceptive type of leadership exhibited by Queen Marcella Samba.
Given that they can take the false representation any longer, they have decided to let the cat out of the bag.
At the helm of affairs, the marginalization of other members of the organization who doesn’t share her one-sided opinions on sensitive national issues has reached a frightening crescendo.
The irony becomes palpable. Here is a woman who normally calls on politicians and political parties to open up the democratic space for disadvantaged and minority groups.
But alas! In her own domain, she cannot practice what she preaches.
Her actions could be best interpreted as an authoritarian queen in her own realm.
Marcella Samba has even incurred the wrath of the mammy curse Bomber “Adebayor” for her one-sided ranting on sensitive national issues.
NEW being a conglomerate of CSOs, must seek harmony and unanimity amongst its members especially the executive before taking a position on national issues.
By speaking with one voice, the risk of discord of opinion within a single organization could be evaded.
Where there is synchronization of positions with other members, Sierra Leoneans would be persuaded that NEW is speaking on their behalf.
However, Madam Dictator could not bring about different thoughts before making her rantings on the media on delicate national issues.
It is therefore advisable for madam know all to be schooled on the democratic model of decision making as opposed to the autocratic model which she has consciously or subconsciously adopted.
Civil Societism is not a business venture where the Chief Executive issues orders to be obeyed by subordinates.
Thus, it is necessary if not indispensable to solicit the views, insights, analysis and interpretations of other members before taking media interviews.
It is true that what madam Samba might see as “A” another executive member of NEW might see as “Z”.
Therefore, consensus building is crucial to eliminating disagreement within a civil society alliance composed of more than 100 organizations.
She refuses to grasp the idea of plurality of thought, where every shades of opinion are appraised before settling on a common decision accepted by all.
This the democratic model of decision making!
When a leader is dictatorial, such as Marcella Samba she obstructs every prospect for proper scrutiny.
Marcella Samba has lacked the trust and confidence of the people of Sierra Leone to speak on their behalf.
As an alternative in restoring good administrative governance:
Madam Samba has been admonished to develop a culture of transparency and consultation within its members encompassing various regions and districts before public statements are made on sensitive national issues on behalf of the coalition.
A committee, comprising of representatives should be established to discussed and agree on the coalition’s position on crucial national issues especially those related to electoral reforms and activities.
The secretariat should device an agreement on how funds received for and on behalf of NEW is located to other members through the regional and district executives for activities and sharing of audited financial statements.
A general meeting must be convened to thrash out a lot of issues touching the organizations credibility and stature among its members to take a well thought out and solution focused approach to the 2015 census and the mid-term census.
This must be done instantly to save the face of NEW from disrepute.
