Molesting the Market Women in Freetown Goes On as Bio’s Thugs Make 30% Quota Redundant
By Abu Shaw in London (28/07/2023)
One irrefutable fact conspicuously surfacing every day under the beleaguered SLPP regime of Maada Bio is the lack of respect for women.
The illegitimate SLPP regime continues to exhibit absolute disdain and hatred for women who make up 95% of the traders in Sierra Leone. Shamefully targeted are the industrious ladies who ply their trade at the Sani Abacha Street Market in Freetown. From time immemorial, from dusk to dawn, so many hardworking women had done and continue to carry on petty trading in this market area for the improvement of their livelihoods. The Abacha Street Market, always filled with female traders, and a few businessmen, a very noisy friendly environment, is targetted on a daily basis. Yet, the failed Bio presidency often bluffs about providing a 30% quota for Sierra Leone women! Oops!! Hypocrisy!!! (Photo: Market stalls destroyed at Abacha Street).
It obviously saddens the majority of Sierra Leoneans that these gallant businesswomen and males face constant intimidation and harassment at the hands of SLPP thugs who disguised themselves in police and military uniforms. Incidentally, only the current regime under the misdirection of Julius Maada Bio, is unleashing mayhem on these innocent and hardworking petty traders. Yesterday, the violence against the women traders escalated after they discovered that all their trading tables and stalls have been damaged by the police bandits. Yet, the failed Bio presidency often bluffs about providing a 30% quota for Sierra Leone women! Oops!! Hypocrisy!!!
On the orders from State House, the seat of power, this newspaper can authoritatively say that the Bio presidency had instructed the SLPP thieves to demolish the tables and to make sure no traders are allowed to do business at the Sani Abacha Street Market. Reports say the Bio regime is hell-bent on punishing these innocent traders for two primary reasons. Firstly, because these petty traders did not vote for Maada Bio during the June 24, 2023 elections and secondly, most of the petty traders hail from the northern parts of Sierra Leone, dominated by the main opposition APC party. Yet, the failed Bio presidency often bluffs about providing a 30% quota for Sierra Leone women! Oops!! Hypocrisy!!!
All hell broke loose yesterday morning when the market women went to sell as usual only to discover that none of their tables and stalls are intact. The chanting started and women questioned the violent government and why they are being stopped from trading. “We wan sell, we wan sell,” chants reverberated in the Krio language along Abacha Street as angry women and men blocked the streets to stop other vehicles from commuting. Most of the stores along Abacha Street were closed down in solidarity with the market protesters. Armed police officers stormed the area but could only stand and watch the women and men protesting. Yet, the failed Bio presidency often bluffs about providing a 30% quota for Sierra Leone women! Oops!! Hypocrisy!!!
Observers have no doubt that the SLPP regime of Maada Bio does not believe in humanity and had no respect for Sierra Leoneans, especially for women. “The government is failing to realise that all of the market women traders are responsible for their respective families. Many of their husbands do not work. And with the school holidays here, these women depend on their tables to save cash to feed their families and buy school uniforms for their children. Today these women are suffering unjustly. Worse of all, the moral guarantors like the Civil Societies are mute and no Women’s Groups have advocated for the petty traders,” a popular social media activist called People’s Power added yesterday. Yet, the failed Bio presidency often bluffs about providing a 30% quota for Sierra Leone women! Oops!! Hypocrisy!!!
The former President Ernest Koroma is credited for building a modern Market Centre at Victoria Park in Freetown, a stone’s throw from Abacha Market but Bio’s regime wickedly stopped the petty traders from using the structure. Sierraloaded newspaper reported yesterday thus – The traders vowed to protest while stopping shop owners from opening their stores. “We were urged to close our shops by the hawkers. “They threatened to loot if we refuse to close,” Jorgor Barrie, a shopkeeper said. Almost all shops and stores in the busy street remain closed as heavy police present at the scene. Assistant Police Commissioner Senesie urged the hawkers to be law-abiding and respectful. Some of us are single parents and this is how we fend for our families,” a young lady told Sierraloaded. Yet, the failed Bio presidency often bluffs about providing a 30% quota for Sierra Leone women! Oops!! Hypocrisy!!!
