Business leaders worry over election violence

A scene in a Freetown market

With threats of an outbreak of violence ahead of the November 17 polls increasing on a daily basis, business leaders in Sierra Leone have got every reason to grow edgy over the danger posed to their interests.

It turns out some have been thinking about it. A forum by the American Chamber of Commerce in Sierra Leone (AMCHAM-SL) recently brought together stakeholders to discuss this.

With an approximately US$500M investment in the country, AMCHAM executives see the electioneering process which is promising a chaotic turn is of concern given its potential impact on the country`s medium and long term economic aspirations.

If the elections are marred by violence, it could put such an investment at risk, causing job losses, warned Chief Executive Officer Modupe Taylor-Pearce Jr.

Business tycoons are known to taking sides in the electioneering process by funding partisan political parties and politicians apparently in return for political favours. And this has been blamed for contributing to clashes between rival parties.

Such funding, noted Chief Electoral Commissioner Dr Christian Thorpe, could be better used in ways that could be more productive to political parties by giving them “benchmarks in training of politicians and sponsoring anti-violence crusade.”

Business and governance, she further pointed out, seem to be poles apart in the country.

“If the outcome of the elections is not good then you business people will not be here…,” the normally frank-talking electoral officer said, adding, “all of us must have a commitment that the national environment is right.”

This discussion came amidst reports of clashes by supporters of main rivals - APC and SLPP - in the West of Freetown over campaign posters.

It followed allegations that the incumbent party sponsors youths whose work is to remove posters of opponents.

Meanwhile, the Carter Center Elections Observation Mission in the country almost at the same time released its pre-election report warning of deficiencies on the part of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), which it said could jeopardize the peaceful conduct of the polls.

Coming ahead of the imminent arrival of the head of its election observation team, former Zambian president Rupia Banda, the Carter Center report cited “poor communication” within the NEC and between it and political parties over scores of unclaimed voter ID cards.

It also cited harassment against female politicians during the recently concluded primaries and nomination processes, among others.