MEDIA & SOCIETY When Policy Debate Is Silence By Party Politics In Sierra Leone Posted by Michael Massaquoi on Jun 26, 2009, 17:31

Over the past few months, Sierra Leoneans have been compelled to put up with party politics completely unrelated to the real issues of concern. This was almost at the same time when United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) had just released an appraisal of President Koroma’s government in its effort to restore peace and stability.

The report itself did not seem appealing to the theatricality of political journalism on a large scale, not because it rendered itself less value than other news items, but because there was probably too much good in it for the government, which some critics may have found hard to stomach. It is not surprising that it did not attract some mainstream newspapers which could have triggered a national debate and give a clear picture of how well President Koroma and his government are doing.

The report is not a perky glossy account of President Koroma’s political ambition as some people had thought, but a policy document which catalogued the problems Sierra Leone has experienced over the last few decades together with recommendations of how to tackle these problems. If the United Nation had gone out of its way to heap praises on the incumbent government, it is because President Koroma’s government has made significant achievements under the joint terms in a short time.

As the dust settles over recent disturbances between the government and the main opposition party, the vast majority of the voters would not want to be caught up again in a media obsession of internecine bloodletting party politics. People want to see the political class talk about the real issues like employment, health, homelessness, corruption, law and order and a host of others.  Sierra Leoneans are tired of the glibly populist cry, and it is time the two opposition parties (what is left of PMDC) engage the government in intense policy debate which can translate into positive and meaningful outcomes for the country.

The report of Michael Von der Schulenburg (Head of UNIPSIL) serves as a perfect source to kick off with a national debate because it is rich in content and mirrors the true experience of Sierra Leone, and what the country stands to achieve- political stability and socio-economic development.  Michael Schulenburg cannot be more honest in his assessment because while he lauded the government for remarkable achievements in areas such as improving national security, combating corruption and  promoting political tolerance; the UN representative was equally bold to warn President Koroma and his government that there is room for improvement.

In countries where policy debate is central to progressive politics, the UN report is a powerful weapon for the opposition parties to launch a policy debate with the government defending its position, but alas, Sierra Leone is completely a different case. And one wonders why our politicians in general have still not woken up to the fact that democracy is not just about electing a government through the ballot box, but it also requires political parties to work in harmony, act as watchdog, and hold each other accountable. The voters are yet to see SLPP throw down the gauntlet for an intense policy debate over some of the crucial issues they are yearning for. Of course, SLPP has only been out of office less than two years, and despite the feeling of despair amongst party officials, there are no signs that the party is exhausted and run out of ideas.

SLPP must think of the unthinkable and come out fighting with new ideas that are different from those of President Koroma and his government.  To win back the broken heartlands, the party must remind the public what they stand for. For years of SLPP rule, it appears the voters have been taken for granted far too long. As one senior SLPP official admitted recently, ‘’the defeat of the party in the last general election was because the people felt forgotten, and there was too much infighting in the party hierarchy’’.As President Koroma continues to demonstrate that he has vision and better ideas of running the country, it is not surprising his popularity is soaring.

The President has put in place policy driven initiatives generated by the Strategy Policy Unit, a Think Tank wing of the President’s office. And with bold initiatives such as the Diaspora office which caters for skilled Sierra Leoneans to fill essential posts in the labour market, improved national security and laudable foreign policy; the youth commission/job creation; privatization commission; Agenda For Change and many more, it is hard for one to think the voters will have a  counterintuitive thought just now.

Of course, it is only a leader who is armed with serious political will such as President Koroma can make things happen, which is why when some people argue that our political system is still stagnant, one can only point to the fact that Sierra Leone now enjoys free and fair elections, commands unquestionable atmosphere of political tolerance and several initiatives aimed at making life better. And for Sierra Leoneans to appreciate these significant achievements, the opposition parties will have to engage the government in public forum to discuss each and every issue. If they can’t, then the press should draw the obvious conclusion to make this happen by starting to cover the SLPP with intense scrutiny appropriate to a government in waiting.