By: Problyn J Alpha
In making sure that the June 24th 2023 general elections are violence free in Kono district and the country as a whole the civil society organization in Kono district through the political parties Registration Commission (PPRC) ended a day session with political party members, the press and other relevant stakeholders in Kono district on the promotion of peace and non-violence messages before, during and after the June 24th general elections in Sierra Leone.
The program was held at the political party Registration Commission office in Kono district.
The essence of the meeting according to the report was for the civil society organizations in Kono district to make their position known on the recent ugly developments in the district that have the potential of undermining the peace of the district and the country as a whole.
The clash between the ruling SLPP and the main opposition APC on the 29th May 2023 and the alleged burning of the house of Diana Finda Konomanyi former Local Government and Rural Development Minister in the erstwhile government of president Ernest Bia Koroma madam on the 31st.of May 2023.
Meanwhile, the civil society organizations in Kono district have on the first of June 2023 released a position paper with the caption “KONO IN DIRE NEED OF PEACE AND NON-VIOLENCE ELECTIONS PROCESS.” The position paper states that the civil society organizations unequivocally condemn any action of political Violence and wish to remind all and sundry of the ten years of a senseless war that killed dozens of citizens and destroyed property worth billions of Leones and Kono as a district suffered the most and still bears the Hallmark of the civil war, whilst the scars of the said war still linger with us, anything that will remind us of those dark periods in our country should not be encouraged the civil society believes that, there are laid down procedures and regulations to address any breach within the electioneering process or cycle and it should be respected.
“We think that those procedures were not respected”. The position paper released by the civil society organizations strongly condemned that,” All political parties in the district, uphold the code of conduct that was signed by political leaders with ECSL.
The position paper entreated all political parties and their supporters to embrace and maintain peace within the electioneering process and ensure they utilize the designated reporting channels whenever there are issues of dissatisfaction to respect the established institutions ECSL and PPRC as a channel to address grievances from any political parties and to maintain the campaign guidelines set by ECSL.
“The need for constructive and effective interventions by neutral parties like civil society organizations to saturate the message of non-violence and political tolerance is apparent,” the position paper stated.
When making a statement the district manager of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, Osman Joe Kamara pointed out that anybody found wanting of committing electoral offences will be severally punished by the laws of the country.
He further stated that posters and other campaign materials should not be around the polling centres on the day of the elections. He encouraged all political parties to send their party agents to the polling centres where they registered or else they will not be allowed to vote at centres where they didn’t register.
Glenis Mani Ngaujah the executive secretary of civil society Network Kono district, encouraged all and sundry to maintain peace and tranquillity by staying away from anything that will cause mayhem in the district before, during and after the elections noting elections are not a do or die game but rather a constitutional right for citizens of a particular country to democratically elect the leader of their choice in a peaceful atmosphere.
“We have extended an olive branch to the general public to indulge the civil society into any peace dialogue that will uphold peace in the district,” he stated. Mr Ngaujah further appealed to members of the various political parties especially the ruling SLPP and the main opposition APC to follow due process to express their grievances and also implored the election management bodies to be proactive and biased less mind absent to addressing a complaint from any political aggrieved members, and ensure they bring to book anybody that will be found wanting of violating the electioneering rules and regulations.
