Giving the political history of Sierra Leone after independent that mark with violence, injustice, poor service delivery, regionalism, tribal play book, elections contention, hate speeches and of recent political polarisation, CSOs and media fragmentation and unpredictability. A forward looking with service delivery movement is of dire need, hence the viability of ROOTS.
ROOTS is non-partisan and a citizens reforms movement design to shift the rules of politics, not to intend to replace political party. It a movement that helps citizen to demand improved standards. Root is based on six fundamental assumptions which are:
- Political party respond to incentivesscrutiny, reputational risk especially during election
- Contracts and economic goverance are leverage points that directly shape fiscal space, service delivery and institutional performance
- Citizens can unite around shared economic losses even when divided politically
- Dissatisfaction must be organised to become politically consequencial
- Elections creat windows for raising the cost of non-commitment to increase citizens desire for standard
- Resistance from vested interest is inevitable but can be countered through coalition pressure and visibility
The power of political party is nothing compared to organize citizens” Andrew Lavalie. We see ROOTS as a transformative movement. This should be a bench mark for Sierra Leone. I came to believe to transform a country is the building of social movement and not as a political party.
Why Root? Is to answer the urgency of now that:
- We live in a country we are not happy about
- The next four years present an opporunity for CSO, political party and Sierra Leone
- If we do not change the political strategy, we will only change personnel in 2028, nothing will change
- There is a mistaken belief that the solution lie in your party being in power
- Many are disillusioned with a country that shows little of it limitless potential
ROOTS want to see a change in Bo, Kenema, Bombali, Bonthe, Port Loko and Tonkolili on inclusivity and voting partners by placing service delivery, their wellbeing, love for country forst and see political party as a scam. when citizens able to understand that the police under All Peoples Congress (APC) that are brutalisng citizens in Bo are the same police under Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) brutalisng citizens in Bombali. the same civil servat that sign a concrate under APC are the same civil servant increasing toll fare under SLPP
Quatations from speakers that makes the day on the launch.
“Sierra Leone is not running out of time because if broken road but also when dialogue collapsed” when the natural resources become a risk, it a national emergency.
"Sierra Leone, we have fought wars, macheted, burning houses, yet no changes, we are running out of time"
"Let the Root not be up-rooted"
"we we are losing in revenue mobilisation is far outweight what we are losing in terms of expenditure"
"Nobody will call on the Kekeh Riders for protest, we too are running out of time"
" With the Kush epidemic befalling our youth, we are running out of time"
Strategic Reform Circle (SRC) members are:-
- Valnora Edwin
- Dr. Julius Spencer
- Dr. Tatu Taqi
- Mr Chuku emeka Chigozi
- Andrew Lavalie
- Abubakarr Tarawalie
The ROOTS website, logo and creed was unveiled marks the birth of ROOT. ROOTS was officially launched by the Chairman Political Party Regulation Commission.
