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Seven Teams to Participate in Xploza Volleyball Championship at Old Skool

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By Karifa Thoronka

This medium was made to understand that the Xploza Western Area Volleyball Championship will now be hosted at the Old Skool complex on Hill station in Freetown.

According to the media representative of WAVA, Ansumana Bangura, the competition will commence on the 23rd April 2022 at the Old Skool complex and will last for a week during which male and female volleyball players are expected to participate.

Secretary General of the Association, Karifa Thoronka, intimated that the Association is well-prepared to kick-start the competition, adding how nine clubs will be participating.

The Secretary-General enjoined entrepreneurs and business entities  to render their support to volleyball, underscoring the importance  of promoting the sport.

The President of the Association assured members of the  public of their security and safety during the competition, maintaining  that volleyball is the most peaceful sport in Sierra Leone.

The Marketing Manager of Premium Divine Trading, Madam Isha Bangura, revealed how they decided to support volleyball out of the belief of promoting sporting activities or disciplines.

Madam Isha Bangura further disclosed that their brand Xploza Energy drink is the key sponsor of the competition this year. She called on other business entities to render more support in order to ensure that volley ball grows within the sporting landscape of the country.

 

Two in Police Net for Illegally Burning the Forest Reserve at Guma Dam

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), in collaboration with the Republic of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) and the Ministry of Public and Political Affairs, on the 20th April 2022 raided individuals who have been illegally burning the forest reserve within the Guma Dam – for almost a week – arrested two suspects who are helping the police with investigations and deployed military officers and forest guards to protect the facility.

According to eye witnesses, these individuals would arm themselves at night with machetes and other dangerous weapons to challenge forest guards who are most times on duty to protect the area. There have been instances of serious clashes between land grabbers and forest guards, leaving the latter with severe injuries. The primary aim of burning the forest reserve along the peninsula is to illegally claim these lands and sell them.

The said forest fires and other environmental hazards have contributed to a significant forest loss within the Dam; which have the proclivity of disrupting the water cycle and lead to a drier climate and drier soil. Thus, the ground will no longer contain and receives much water to supply residents in Freetown and its environs.

Throughout last week, the NMDA received numerous reports of forest burnings along the peninsula. The NDMA through its Directorate of Relief and Response, Risk Reduction and Preparedness, together with NPAA, the Ministry of Public and Political Affairs and RSLAF visited the various scenes and arrested two perpetrators while searching for others who are on the run.

The Deputy Minister of Public and Political Affairs, Amara Kallon, said that there was need for inter-agency and inter-ministerial approach to addressing the twin crises of climate change and nature loss. According him, deforestation leads to climate change, nature loss and human suffering. He also pointed out that the unprecedented deforestation within the Guma Dam forest reserve should be stopped immediately to save it from completely drying up.

NDMA’s Director of Relief and Response, Sinneh Mansaray said addressing deforestation requires tough decisions to regulate land-use and enforce legislation. He went on to say that the NDMA will continue to work with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, the Sierra Leone Police, the Office of National Security and other security institutions to devise workable strategies to protect Sierra Leone’s forest reserve.

Head of Operations at Mile 13, Sergeant Foday, called on the security sector to re-institute operation “Restored Hope”, which was established in 2009 wherein joint security patrols were frequently undertaken across the forest reserve areas to repel land grabbers and/or illegal timber logging. He said this will help the forest guards to execute their duties efficiently.

About two months ago, the World Food Programme (WFP), through a request made by NDMA, hired the service of a consultant to assess the risk Guma Dam is exposed to using high-tech drone technology. According to his report, there are new established settlements as a result of rapid deforestation and land acquisition by locals at a close proximity to the Dam from various ends.

The report also points out that about 2,850 hectares (5,550) acres has been captured as settlement areas close to the Dam, where water level is considered as the lowest in history which is currently on layer four (4), and about 40% of the surface area within the perimeter of the Dam has been compromised.

The National Disaster Management Agency will continue to engage relevant stakeholders within the security and environmental sectors to provide adequate security for the protection of the Guma Dam.

Abdul Kadiru Kaikai Argues that there is a Thin layer of Strongholds in Sierra Leone

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By Esther Wright

According to a Press Release issued by Abdul Kadiru Kaikai’s media team, an SLPP strong man, what is becoming clearer by the day is the use of the tribalism card by the main opposition party, the APC against the ruling party. This action, according Chief Kadiru, is going to be their undoing in the coming 2023 General Elections, as it will invariably hand over the Presidency to President Bio on a silver-plate once again.

What those politicians have failed to realize is that there is not a single situation where any party has won the Presidency from its stronghold. There is always going to be the combination of a certain percentage from the various regions for a party to win State House.  The APC needs at least 180,000 votes from the South and East to win State House, likewise, the SLPP also needs to have votes from Port Loko, Kambia, and Koinadugu to win State House. All elections conducted in this country since independence have shown that no single party can win State House without scooping votes from areas not known to be their strongholds, hence the reason for all these campaigns to woo voters from the North, South, North-West, East, and Western Areas by both parties.

It is against this backdrop that the use of the tribal card is seen as counter-productive, as it has the tendency to create animosity against the perpetrator by the aggrieved tribe. It is by playing this political chess that the Chairman of the APC has been seen as delivering State House to President Bio in the coming elections, as his party has been using the tribal card against the Mendes on social media, which further antagonizes that tribe from the party, and has the potential of pushing them to offer total loyalty to Bio, who is being portrayed by the opposition as their kinsman.

To further compound the problem for the main opposition, is the in-roads that President Bio has been making in the North, East and North-West. Whilst the Ernest Koroma administration prides itself in making roads, the Bio Government has been building bridges, a notable one being the Rogbere Bridge, which is the gateway to the North and the East of the country: A bridge that has been advocated for by citizens over the decades of APC rule. Moves to give the Lungi Airport a face lift, with the on-going construction work in expanding the facility at international standard to accommodate bigger aircrafts and enhance air traffic in that part of the country, has been seen as a positive development by residents in the Port Loko District, where this facility is located.

Residents in Lungi are now being provided with electricity, which serves both the airport and the communities, thereby encouraging the development of trade among residents in the district. This development may see residents of the district voting en masse for Bio in the coming election, as during the tenure of former President Koroma, moves were on the way to transfer the airport to Mammamah, close to the capital, Freetown, which would have deprived Lungi of much needed development, as focus will be paid on the new airport. This singular action by President Bio has stamped his image as one who cares for all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation, region, tribe or creed.

It should be noted that it was this tribal card that operated during the tenure of the former President, with members of his tribe occupying top positions, whilst the bulk of the other tribes were relegated to mere spectators. It was this situation, coupled with the looting of the people’s money that led to the demand for change by Sierra Leoneans, which culminated in the voting out of the APC from governance in 2018.

With the inroads, the SLPP is making in the North and North-West and the timidity in the South and East to vote for a party that has nakedly preached tribalism against them and ridiculed their tribe, the 2023 election has already been sealed for Julius Maada Bio, and until the APC changes their political strategy, winning State House is going to remain a pipe dream for a long time, especially as tribalism continues to take dominance in our political discourse.

The state of the economy, though a major concern, and could have rendered the Bio Government the exit door, yet apprehension for what ,may lie ahead in an APC administration that seemed so obsessed with tribalism will turn the tide around and prompt citizens to vote for the lesser evil, which will give Bio the second term Presidency with ease.

Chinese Embassy & Confucius Institute Commemorate International Chinese Language Day

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone in collaboration with the Confucius Institute of Fourah Bay College of the University of Sierra Leone (USL) on Wednesday 20th April, 2022 commemorated International Chinese Language Day on the theme: “Together for a better future.” The ceremony which also marked the 13th United Nations Chinese Language Day, which has been celebrated annually on April 20 since 2010 was held at the Confucius Institute of Fourah Bay College of the University of Sierra Leone (USL) Campus in Freetown.

The event was graced by some 150 students of USL and the local Chinese community including some dignitaries which includes the Minister of Tourism and Culture Memunatu Pratt, Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Lusine Kallon, Member of Parliament Hindolo Gevao, Vice Chancellor and Principal of USL Foday Sahr.

In his statement, The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Hu Zhangliang expressed deep appreciation to the Sierra Leonean government and people under the leadership of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio for attaching great importance to China-Sierra Leone relations and promoting mutual understanding between the two peoples through increased cultural exchanges.

He further expressed his heartfelt thanks to all the staff of the Confucius Institute of the University of Sierra Leone for their commendable and hard efforts in helping the interested Sierra Leonean friends study and learn the Chinese culture and language.

Ambassador Hu pointed out that, as the largest mother tongue used in the world, the Chinese language is an important symbol of the Chinese civilization and an important carrier of the Chinese culture. With a good command of the Chinese language, one would find it easier not only to appreciate China’s profound history, current development and promising future, but also to do business and conduct all other kinds of exchanges with the Chinese people.

Ambassador Hu said that China will work closely with African countries especially Sierra Leone to further strengthen the cultural and people-to-people exchanges under the framework of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative. Ambassador Hu also interacted with the students on topics such as the features of the Chinese language and characters, the essence of the Chinese culture (such as the concepts of “unity of man and nature”, “seeking harmony in differences” and “constantly striving to be strong and self-reliant”), the meaning of the country’s name, and the reason why the giant panda is regarded as the national treasure of China etc.

He maintained that the Chinese language is the largest mother tongue used in the world and that it is spoken by over 1.6 billion people in the world. So far, more than 180 countries and regions in the world have introduced Chinese language learning into their societies, and over 70 countries have incorporated Chinese learning and teaching into their national education systems, adding that more than 20 million people out of China are learning Chinese, and the cumulative number of Chinese learners and users abroad is close to 200 million.

“The Confucius Institutes, Confucius Classrooms and other Chinese language education institutions have done a lot through their voluntary hard work to provide support to people around the world in learning Chinese and understanding China. Today’s event is not only a program for popularizing the Chinese language, but also an important occasion for appreciating the Chinese culture” he disclosed.

The Ambassador pointed out that China and Sierra Leone enjoy time-honored friendship, stating that last year marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. In the past five decades, education and cultural exchange has been continuously enhanced. For example, under various government scholarships programs, the Chinese side has sponsored more than 1000 Sierra Leonean students to study in China and invited more than 5100 Sierra Leonean friends from all walks of life to China for short-term training courses or exchanges.

On her part, the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Dr. Memunatu Pratt thanked China for its long-term and strong support to Sierra Leone and hoped that Sierra Leone-China friendly cooperation would be further strengthened through cultural exchanges.

She said that UNESCO first created Chinese Language Day in 2010 to celebrate as one of the six official languages of the United Nations and the day also celebrates Cangjie who invented Chinese characters about 5,000 years ago, stating that every nation’s unique force of cohesion and unity is its language and invariably this day seek to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity, as well as to promote equal use of all six official working languages through the organization and in the long run throughout the Globe.

The Minister continued that cultural heritage exhibiting themselves through the principal conveyor- language could set the solid platform for the development of sustainable cross- cultural engagement and promotions of which she noted that evidently, Sierra Leone’s cultural and Chinese culture represent significant assets for both countries that can be exploited in a responsible and sustainable manner as a platform for cross cultural engagement, interpretation that would facilitate employment and a revenue generating resource, particularly through protection, safeguarding and the development of cultural and heritage tourism of both countries, with a focus on understanding the cultures of both nations with language as the main corridor of relations and engagements.

Other dignitaries presents including the Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, the Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Lusine Kallon, Member of Parliament Hindolo Gevao, the Vice Chancellor and Principal of USL Foday Sahr etc. also made statement at the ceremony.

The event was highlighted by the Chinese Kung-Fu show, the lion dance and the interactive games. The students also experienced the Chinese culture by enjoying the tea ceremony, paper-cutting and calligraphy etc.

Orange SL Provides Iftar to Worshippers of Ilmozikri and Al Karim Mosques

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

As was done in the past years, with the avowed view of consolidating and maintaining the existing bond between Orange-Sierra Leone, as a telecommunications company and its numerous subscribers as well as extending love during this Holy Month of Ramadan, the company on the 20th April 2022, supported Muslims worshipping at Ilmozikri and Masjid Al Karim mosques respectively with a donation of assorted food items worth millions of Leones.

Led by the company’s Chief Executive Officer,  Sekou A Bah and other senior officials, a symbolic handing over of the assorted food items to Muslims residing at Hill Station and IMATT where the two mosques are situated.

Among the donated food items to both mosques were 10 bags of rice, 5 bags of milk, 5 gallons of cooking oil, 7 bags of sugar, and several cartons of tin tomatoes and maggie among other cooking ingredients.

Head of Public Relations at Orange-SL , Madam Annie Wonnie Katta, stated how  it is not the first time Orange-SL is giving out a donation of such magnitude disclosing how such is a usual practice during this period. She continued by maintaining that as a company, they are aware of the Holy Month of Ramadan and the blessings that the fasting period brings not only to the givers but also those in need of such donations.

Madam Annie Wonnie Katta underscored that it is the responsibility of Orange-SL not only to give the best in telecommunication services, but to also address or respond to societal issues, adding that helping Muslims during the Holy Month of Ramadan is a major way of fulfilling their societal commitment.

Receiving the items on behalf of the IlmoZikre Jamah, the Chief Imam, expressed profound gratitude to Orange-SL for its continued support to the Masjid over the years, adding that Orange-SL, well known as a ‘Kombra Network’ will always stands by them during the Holy Month of Ramadan by dishing out huge donations worth millions of Leones.

He intimated that the relationship with the telecommunications company had been very cordial over the years with both sides mutually benefitting.

The Imam divulged that the value of charity has been one of the strong pillars of Orange-SL family and that they are very happy to be part of such a family.

“I want to express my appreciation to the CEO of Orange-SL for being present during the presentation and prayed that God will bless the lives of all staff of Orange-SL,” he stated.

The Chief Imam of Masjid Al Karim, Sheikh Abdul Karim Kamara, also thanked Orange-SL for the kind humanitarian gesture.

He added that this is the very first time in the history of the Masjid that they have received such a donation from the telecommunications company. He described the donation as timely and life-saving maintaining that the food items will last them until the end of the Ramadan period .

He added that the donations came at a time when they were preparing for the “Lalatugadri” ceremony and expressed his happiness over how the donated items will help his community people.

The CEO of Orange-SL, Sekou Amadou Bah officially presented the donated items to the two mosques. Both events were followed by Muslim prayers.

Complaining of Exploitation by their Agents… Trawler Fishermen Cry For Help

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By Amin Kef Sesay

If the cry of the country’s fishermen that work onboard trawlers falls on deaf ears in the Fisheries and Marine Resources Ministry, then their last resort would be to call a general strike to draw attention to what they call their deplorable working conditions.

Among other things, the disgruntled trawler fishermen are calling for a hike in their salaries commensurate with the work that they do.

These grievances of over 1000 trawler fishermen were highlighted quite recently at a meeting summoned at Negus Nagaz complex along the Grafton-Regent highway.

At the ‘blow mind’ meeting, one of the fishermen, Alie Fofanah said they called in the media to draw attention to failure by the authorities to satisfactorily address their long standing grievances against their agents and employers.

He reported that for a long time they have had unsuccessful engagements with the leadership of Fishermen Union, their vessel agents, the Labour Ministry on welfare issues such as the reduction of their salaries, nonpayment of their NASSIT subscriptions, non-availability of medical facilities, lack of balanced diet, lack of safety gears, among others.

He said they know that the Chinese employers pay them three million Leones (Le3,000,000) per month, but their recruitment agents only pay them a paltry one million one hundred thousand Leones (Le1,100,000) a month.

Furthermore, their agents stubbornly refuse to make NASSIT contributions for them.

Sao Kabba reported that they have no medical allowances and that any fisherman injured on duty gets no medical attention and compensation.

Furthermore, he moaned that food and water supply to them are not adequate. He disclosed that some vessels bosses supply 3 bundles of water per month. When it runs out, even if it remains five to ten days for the vessel to return, they are not replenished

The fishermen squarely blamed the Ministry of Labour and their agents of not seeking their welfare; stating that they pay fifty thousand Leones per month to the union office for which they get no service from the Union.

Thus, the fishermen who are on temporary leave as the month-long ban on fishing lasts are calling on the Ministry of Labour to engage their agents and employers on the issue that they have brought forward.

Within the context of these fishermen complaining of deplorable living and working conditions that include one meal a day, water rationing and cardboard beds, the fishermen The Calabash spoke to recommended strongly that the authorities increase on-board fishing observation  to strictly monitor and ensure practices by foreign vessels at sea comply with local legislation as they decried the gross irregularities at sea that include reserving the good catches for transshipment to overseas markets with the country not benefitting from those export earnings.

They maintained that if the authorities work together, they would be able to provide a stronger monitoring system, they would be able to assess the volume of their stock and agree how much fish is reasonable to let fishing fleets catch while at the same time ensuring there is enough fish for the local communities.

Magistrate Hadiru Daboh Resolves Calaba Town Market Feud & Imposes Cost on Defendant

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By Elkass Sannoh

Magistrate Hadiru Daboh has on the 20th April 2022 amicably settled an impasse between the Unity ‘Ataya Base’ and Executive members of the Calaba Town Traders’ Union which created unrest in the community around May, 2021.

The Defendant in that matter, Memuna Kargbo, was brought before the Court to answer to two Counts of Trespass, Contrary to Section 15 (i) (a) of the Public Order Act, No. 46 of 1965 and Insulting Language, contrary to Section 3 (iii) of the Public Order Act, No. 46 of 1965. The Defendant was represented by A.A. Mansaray Esq. whilst M. Sheriff Esq. represented the Complainant, Tenneh Sheriff.

“What I have discovered in all of the evidence adduced before this Court is that the Complainant was put in occupation by one Ibrahim Sorie Saccoh (PW2), the owner of the property by the Executive Members of the Ataya Base,” said Magistrate Hadiru Daboh, stating that, “they in fact shifted her stall while renovating the Ataya Base entrance to the Complainant’s premises.”

Magistrate Daboh continued that the Second Principal Witness uncontrovertibly confirmed his ownership and tenancy relationship with the Complainant by identifying a Conveyance dated 11th day of June, 2012 registered as Volume 830 page 97.

Throughout the proceedings, the Magistrate maintained that it was apparent that the Defendant was granted transfer by the Ataya Base Executive unlawfully.

The Defendant pleaded not guilty to all the allegations brought against her.

The Defendant explained that she was insulted in the full view of the public, adding that there was a tree serving as a boundary to their stalls distanced by three feet.

“In as much as our foremost responsibility is the administration of justice, but as Magistrates, we have a duty to also resolve dispute in order to bring sanity in society,” Magistrate Hadiru Daboh said.

He ordered the Complainant’s stalls be restored proportionately on the right hand side as it were before the pavement of the Unity Ataya Base.

The Magistrate went on to order that the Defendant removes her stalls from the Complainant’s premises to her previous location on the left hand side as it were before the pavement of the Ataya Base, or in the alternative, take her previous location at the extreme back of the Complainant’s stalls.

“That the Executive of the Ataya Base allows the Traders’ Union at the Calaba Town Market to perform their duties when it comes to feuds between and among traders before resolving it to the Court,” he said and imposed two Million Leones cost to be borne by the Defendant.

In Bonthe Township…   President Bio Commends Inputs by Ministries of Energy, Works & Water Resources

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By Theresa Kef Sesay

President Julius Maada Bio, on the 19th April 2022, completed a conducted tour of works at water supply sites, mini-grids and roads projects being executed in the Bonthe Township by entities under the supervision of the Ministries of Energy, Works and Water Resources.

At the Bonthe Water Supply Project sites, fully funded by the Government of Sierra Leone, the President was greeted and taken around by Minister of Water Resources, Ing. Philip Karimu Lansana, the Board Chairman of the Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO), Ing. Mohamed Alieu Jalloh, Managing Director, Ing. George Lamin Vandi, Deputy Managing Director, Albert Harrison Harvey and the SALWACO team.

Other ongoing projects included those of the Ministry of Energy, delivering on green energy solutions and mini-grid electrification and the Ministry of Works, through its Sierra Leone Roads Authority, working on roads construction. The President also visited and motivated the teaching staff and students of the Bonthe Technical College, now affiliated to Njala University, a rural comprehensive public research university with its main campus in Njala and another in Bo.

It could be recalled that on 19 June 2021 Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, symbolically erected electricity poles on the Island to mark the physical commencement of the Bonthe City Electrification Project.

He said, at the time, that the Bonthe Island project was behind other township electrification projects in implementation because it was among the second set of towns approved for the project. He had, however, assured that with the erection of poles, contractors were going to accelerate the process of implementation.

On his part, President Julius Maada Bio said he was more than impressed with the strides and conscious efforts made by the Ministry of Energy to increase access to electricity in his home district adding how that was consistent with his manifesto commitments on energy.

In response, President Julius Maada Bio said he was more than impressed with the strides and conscious efforts made by the Ministry of Energy to increase access to electricity in his home district, adding that such was consistent with his manifesto commitments on energy.

He said when completed, the various projects would give Bonthe a social facelift as well as improve the livelihoods of the people.

President Bio concluded by saying that his Government is committed to doing more in the area of energy in every part of the country.

To Boost Iron Ore Haulage… Leone Rock Metal Group Adds 3 More Brand New Locomotives

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By Esther Wright

With the objective of  boosting  iron ore haulage from the New Tonkolili Iron Ore Mines through the 192KM railway to the Pepel Shipping Port, Leone Rock Metal Group on the 20th April 2022 commissioned or unveiled three additional locomotives to those that the company was already using.

The locomotive is a rail transport vehicle that provides the motive power for a train.  A single locomotive has the capacity to pull 30 wagons which are used to transport iron ore from the mines to the port. So far, the train sets 112 wagons to 4 locomotives and 90 wagons to 3 locomotives.

Commissioning or bringing in 3 new locomotives has brought the total locomotive capacity of the company to 12 since there are currently 8 available for haulage. The additional locomotives will improve the haulage capacity of the company so it can achieve a target of 25,200 tonnes daily and 9 million tonnes annually.

Railway Operation is an important infrastructure in maintaining and developing Leone Rock’s Railway and Port, as well as boosting the Sierra Leone economy. Between March 2021 to December 2021 Leone Rock Metal Group haulage 359 trains with a total of 2,523,531 Tons of Iron Ore.

It must be noted that the Leone Rock Metal Group is the parent company of Kingho Mining Company and Kingho Railway and Port Company Limited.

Kingho Railway and Port Company administer the 192-kilometer railway which leads from the New Tonkolili Iron Ore Mines to the Port town of Pepel, in Kamasondo Chiefdom, Port Loko District. It also operates the Pepel shipping port from which Iron Ore is transported outside the country.

Housemates Salone Poised to Present a Mix Bag of Talents under One Roof

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By Amin Kef Sesay

Season 3 of Housemates Salone with the slogan, “Di Game Get Yagba, If You Nor Able Na for Pull Hand, put together by AYV Media Empire and Africell-Sierra Leone, will soon commence and aired on AYV Television, DStv Channel 399 and other Social Media platforms. At this point in time, it will be no gainsaying that the forthcoming Reality TV Show will form one of the biggest social events that many are yearning to watch on their screens which will invariably generate intense debates or arguments in various social circles.

The Reality TV Show is slated in such a way that twenty-two aspirants that have been qualified will be sent to a House for eleven (11) weeks, totally excluded from any form of contact with the outside world. While in the House they are expected to socially interact, performing tasks assigned to them in a competitive manner and display their God given talents in order to score points.

Though it may appear weird, the Housemates could appear sexy by the way they dress, sometimes they will talk harshly by using strong words and act humorously with a view to entertain viewers. Some may criticize on the grounds that displaying those qualities could be obscene or rude but the reality of the situation is that Reality TV Shows are expected to exhibit such. It could be said in other words that such shows are expected to depict real life situations when young people from different backgrounds are living together.

What in actual fact will make the Reality TV Show really tantalizing, funny and worthy to follow is the fact that the various Housemates will be coming from different backgrounds harbouring a vast array of talents. It will be a mix bag as the three days audition really revealed. What we saw during those three days that the audition took place were aspirants who displayed talents as singers, dancers, poets, actors, actresses etc.  It is the display of those various talents which will add juice and spice that will make Housemates Salone Season 3 a very interesting show.

As for now the task of getting the 22 aspirants that will successfully enter the House is going on through a public voting process. After the audition, based on the large number of individuals in and out of the country that showed interest to get onboard the show the organizers, through the assessment of the Judges, zeroed to sixty aspirants. Out of those 60 aspirants, AYV Media Empire and Africell-Sierra Leone are narrowing them to 22 through public voting.

For members of the public residing in the country they are voting by dialing:  *161*10# plus the NUMBER of their favourite contestants from an Africell line which is the approved link for voting until it closes.

As for those residing overseas they are voting via:  +232 99 005500 as the approved line for voting.

The question that should be answered at this material time is what is really at stake for the Housemates.

What in actual fact is up for grabs by the contestants is the winning prize of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le250M) plus a full round trip to Dubai.

The rationale behind organizing such a social event is geared towards Youth Empowerment. Besides socializing, the Housemates are provided the platform to learn useful skills like cooking, singing, how to eloquently express themselves, dress for different situations, learn how to cook, how to play different games, how to settle misunderstandings among a host of other things that they will be taken through.

It is obvious that whilst in the House, these Housemates will imbibe certain attributes that will forever position them in life to positively impact others in society.

During the show the talents of the Housemates will be spot on by viewers. There is the possibility that those talents could be recognized and could be developed through the help of others which will ultimately transform those having them to play important roles in society. Some will be contracted to become Brand Ambassadors of corporate institutions and others will champion projects geared towards impacting positively on the lives of young people.

Members of the public now have the ‘Yagba’ to critically assess and vote for their favourite aspirants so that at the end of the day we are assured of an entertaining and inspiring Reality TV Show, Housemates Salone Season 3.