Dear Tech,

The political temperature in your country is becoming hotter and hotter, especially now that there is a date for the presidential and general elections. The politicians are using all types of methods to manipulate or hoodwink or win the hearts of the electorates. Sierra Leoneans are well aware of the saying that POLITICS NAR DORTY GAME (politics is a dirty game), and we have started seeing it now with the recent dramatic twists and turns. I pray that this does not lead us again to war, or to the old days of election violence…..TECH I know you are not happy, but the reality is that POLITICS IS A DIRTY SPORT; LOOK AT SIERRA LEONE…

CROSS-CARPETING POLITICIANS!!

Indeed politics is a dirty game, but some people are making it look like an ugly sport. Moving from one political party to the other is not a strange thing in politics, but when people start criss-crossing at a pace that few could explain, then it all becomes weird and absurd. Take the cases of Malaam Janneh and Madam Serrah Kamara. Both of them were originally prominent SLPP supporters, but when Charles Margai broke away to form the PMDC, they followed him and cried ‘hossana, here's the redeemer'. In so many instances, both of them publicly campaigned for Margai as the man to save Sierra Leone. But now the former Youth Leader and the former Mammy Queen of Bo have both switched over to the SLPP again. TECH, look, I am not impressed at all by this type of politics. People should be guided by principles, not pretensions. Whatever the reasons, I am not amused; instead I am bemused!!!

BEREWA AND BIRIWA

About two weeks ago, Vice President Solomon Berewa, the presidential flag-bearer of the ruling SLPP, held a meeting in Makeni with all the paramount chiefs in Bombali District. In what many political observers would call a crafty coercion, the chiefs actually pledged their total support for the VP in the next elections. Well, TECH, how do you read that? Would you have expected the chiefs to say anything else, when their powers have been so politicised nowadays? Chiefs can be dethroned or enthroned at any time as the powers-that-be wish…. And indeed the Bombali chiefs want their positions secure and safe, so no wonder they broke the tradition of neutrality to pledge allegiance to Berewa (as they were told?). But the real story of Berewa or the SLPP and the battle for the chiefs was demonstrated in Biriwa chiefdom, in the same Bombali district. Even acting against the warning of the Chairlady of the National Electoral Commission, the government conducted chieftaincy elections in that chiefdom; even when the electoral register was fraught with anomalies; the SLPP had to bring the Provincial Secretary from the southern province to conduct elections in the Northern Province. And what happened? The government's favoured candidate, Issa Sheriff (a Madingo of President Kabbah's clan) was given the position. But at what price? Five people are already in hospital due to machete wounds inflicted by aggrieved chiefdom people because the government went against their wishes. TECH, please tell Berewa to beware of Biriwa…. It could just be the place where his downfall may start…

LISTEN TO THE STRIKING NURSES

 Politics is indeed currently the order of the day; so less attention is paid to various other issues. But, TECH, please let the authorities hear the cries of the nurses at the Emergency Surgical Centre in Goderich. They have decided to go on a sit-down strike, protesting against discrimination and undue harassment from their foreign counterparts. Sierra Leonean nurses are underpaid, and at the same time they are put under pressure by being searched – even playing with their BREASTS AND PANTS!! Could the politicians from both sides of the spectrum (ruling party or opposition) please stand up for their own people? After all, they say they need the people's votes. Except if they already have other ways of winning elections.