As August hosts immense events of outstanding values in the struggle for the liberation of the African people so it continues to unfold crucial episodes in the national stride for lasting democracy and peace in Sierra Leone.
In commemoration of August month, with heavy heart the Pan-African Union of Sierra Leone (PANAFU-SL) continues to join peace-loving fellow citizens to mourn and sympathize with bereaved families for our lost ones and vehemently condemns the act of violence on August 10 across affected areas in Sierra Leone.
However, our commitment to genuine democracy, lasting peace, total liberation and unification through a just and egalitarian system continues to generate inspiration from the African Calendar of Events in August at international and national levels.
Some Remarkable Incidences in August:
Earth Strong Days
On 3rd August 1832, Wilmot Edmond Blyden, the renowned pan-Africanist, also known as the Father of Pan-Africanism, was born. He laid the foundation for the first Pan-African Conference which took place in the US in 1900. He also pursued the struggle for African redemption and repatriation and finally rest in peace in Sierra Leone in 1912.
On 17 August 1887 Marcus Garvey, the champion of African Nationalism, was born. He established the UNIA-ACL with Henry Dove as National Vice President and created a chapter in Sierra Leone. He also inspired great African leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and promoted ideals like Rastafarianism.
The month of August is dedicated to the women of Africa for their invaluable service to the African cause, hence African Women’s Month. This is in recognition of the fact that on 9 August 1956 thousands of women in Azania (South Africa) marched in protest on the streets of South Africa chanting: “Now you have touched the women, you have moved a rock, you have dislodged a boulder; you will be crushed”. The peaceful mass protest was held against the racist Apartheid system then in that part of Africa which forced the women and the indigenes of South Africa to carry ‘passes’ in their land of birth.
Panafu therefore continues to honour these heroines and indeed all women of Africa for their sacrifices and great roles as educators, peace-builders and unifiers. These include Constance Cummings John of the WAYL in Sierra Leone – the first female MP and Mayor in Africa, whose face is displayed on the new 20 Leone note (NLe.20) of Sierra Leone, Mbalia Camara of the PDG in Guinea Conakry, Titina Silah of the PAIGC in Guinea Bissau, Amy Ashwood Garvey of UNIA in the US and Assata Shakur of the BPP in the US.
Restoration of Democracy in Sierra Leone
On 18 August 1997, the Women’s Movement for Peace, the Labour Congress, several students’ movements and PANAFU-SL staged a mass student demonstration against the AFRC-RUF military junta.
The junta cracked down on the people, arrested, raped, beat, injured many and killed 10 peaceful protesters. Among the victims was Njala University Student Vaffie Konneh, a PANAFU activist, who was murdered and mutilated in cold blood. Having restored democracy and in our struggle to uphold it, women are a force to be reckoned with; hence we continue to call on Sierra Leoneans to recognise August 18 as a Day of National Democracy and Peace.
August 10 Violence, Recommendations
In consolidation of our daring fledgling democracy, PANAFU-SL continues to condemn the ugly incidence of August 10, and call on all citizens to take up national responsibility in blame and restraints towards building sustainable peaceful coexistence and to avert future national misdirection as we make the following recommendations:
· The ruling party (the SLPP) and the main opposition (the APC) should drop their pride, put on bold face and take prime responsibility for the August 10 incidence as an outburst of continued growing tension of rivalry and therefore take the lead for a national consultative process towards a peaceful path.
· Members and supporters of these parties, and indeed all Sierra Leoneans, must stop uttering and disseminating hate speech and messages, and eschew violence.
· The state authorities must establish a competent inquiry committee, if necessary including foreign stakeholders, for impartial and proper inquiry into the root cause(s) of the August 10 protest, referencing past reconciliation instruments like TRC Report, for enhancement of lasting peace.
· The outcomes of the Bintumani 3 conference, the National Cohesion and Peace Commission, the Pademba Road Prison killing saga, the Governance Transition Team Report, and the Commissions of Inquiry must all form bases for a peaceful and reconciliatory process.
· The authorities should ensure that there is effective price regulation and provision of appropriate market facilities across the country, especially in the city centres or metropolitan areas such as Freetown.
· The 1991 National Constitution should be reviewed and there should be revival of national festivals including lantern parade and mask carnival as national recreation to reduce national stress and tension. The revival of such national festivals should be done with consideration for effective security from the state and organisers including constructive discipline from all.
· State authorities and all moral guarantors (national and international) should come up with initiatives supporting the conduct of peaceful national elections in Sierra Leone in 2023 and after.
· Peace and reconciliation should be an integral component of national civic and academic education as alternative for conflict and grievance resolution.
· Government should prioritise the allocation of national resources towards creation of sustainable employment opportunities in order to reduce increasing idleness and frustration especially among the younger populations.
· Government must reallocate considerable state resources for enhancement of the professional role of the country’s security forces in securing life and property as well as in improving their engagement in line with productive activities that are supportive of state development.
· The people of Sierra Leone must be seen to behaving responsibly as product and protector of the country’s emerging democracy and peace and should desist from the use of hate speech, the misuse of social media opportunities, and serving as a pond for hatching sinister plot of mischievous politicians and individuals.
· There should be a review into the legal provision regarding citizenry participation in politics, including legal clearance and permit for expression of opinion, demonstration, protest, strike, trade unionism, etc.
· The state should enhance active civic participation in governance including women in politics, the fight against corruption, judiciary process, use of state funds, and community authority.
· The Cyber Crime Act must be reviewed and effectively implemented to appropriately serve its purpose and protect human rights.
· Governance and state resources should be accordingly decentralized across regional, district and chiefdom levels.
END
From: The Coordinating Committee of the Pan-African Union of Sierra Leone (PANAFU-SL)
ABOUT PANAFU-SL
PANAFU-SL is a mass-based organization of workers, youths, students and peasants. It upholds the ideology and principle of Pan-Africanism, which is the total liberation and unification of Africa under One Unified Socialist Government. Since its formation in 1981 Panafu has been struggling for the liberation, unification and development of Sierra Leone and Africa. As a part of the worldwide Pan-African Movement, Pananfu calls on all Africans to join the organization or build any other fighting for the total liberation, unification and development of Africa and Africans at home and in the diaspora as well as humanity. It believes that it is only through organization that Africans can plan and achieve liberation.
