One-on-One With Zainab Bangura

Some call her, the “Iron Lady” of Sierra Leone.  After Shirley Gbujama, she is Sierra Leone’s second woman to serve as Foreign and International Cooperation Minister. (Photo: Zainab Bangura, Alhaji Jalloh, Jeneh Kandeh)

Honourable Zainab Hawa Bangura was born nearly 50 years ago in the Tonkolili District, Northern Sierra Leone. She attended the prestigious Mathora Girls Secondary School before she later transferred to one of the most renowned schools in the Western Area, Annie Walsh Girls Secondary School in Freetown.

The Foreign Minister is a graduate of Fourah Bay College and also studied in the United Kingdom. Zainab Bangura is a household name in Sierra Leone and known as a Social Activist in many quarters. Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) cannot be mentioned without its co-founder, Madam Zainab  Bangura. She has been and still is an advocate for Democracy and Good Governance. During the days of the NPRC Military regime led by Capt. Valentine Strasser, she strongly advocated for the restoration of a democratically elected government.

She was also very actively involved in convincing the International Community for the restoration of Democracy during the rule of the AFRC/RUF rebels from 1997-1998.

One thing she has always kicked against is, CORRUPTION. It wasn’t a surprise for those who are very close to her to learn in the year 2002 about her efforts in founding the National Accountability Group (NAG). NAG was formed to fight corruption and promote transparency and accountability in government; a move appreciated by the International Community, particularly our donor partners.

Before her appointment as Foreign Minister in 2007 by President Ernest Bai Koroma, she was flying the Sierra Leone flag very high in Liberia; where she performed remarkably well as a Director of the Civil Affairs Office in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

Her role in reconstructing 17 Liberian Ministries and 30 government agencies is a clear indication that President Koroma made no mistake in handing over the baton of Sierra Leone’s Foreign Relations to the Iron Lady.  Many believe her appointment was in place and she deserves it. Well, the Honourable Minister has gone all around the world since her appointment strengthening Sierra Leone’s Foreign Relations with other countries. She is currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this time though to answer to the greater call of Allah, to perform the Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam symbolising total submission and humbleness to the Almighty Allah. In less than a week’s time, after she would have completed all the basic Hajj Rites, “HAJA” will be added to her name, Honourable Haja Zainab Hawa Bangura, as is the tradition in Sierra Leone.

She is here as a Special Guest of the Saudi Royal Protocol Department. She arrived in the late hours of last Friday on board Saudi Air MV123 here after spending days in the United Kingdom to attend the just concluded Trade and Investment Conference.

Well, 15 minutes after entering her Conference Palace Hotel Apartment, I visited   her with the expectation to book an appointment for a brief interview the following day, but gladly said when she saw me: “Don’t worry, though it has been very busy days in the UK, and I jumped into an aircraft just after the conference, I am still active when it comes to national issues.”

I had no plans to ask her about political matters in Sierra Leone. My intention was just to focus on what brought her to Mecca, “HAJJ” and related issues.

Here are excerpts of the brief interview:

Alhaji Jalloh (AJ): Welcome to Saudi Arabia, Madam Honourable Minister.

Zainab H. Bangura (ZHB ): Thank you very much indeed, Mr. Jalloh.

AJ:  You just arrived from the UK, what could you tell our readers about the just concluded Trade and Investment Conference?

ZHB: It was excellent. From the discussion I had with the former British Prime Minister, who described the conference as one of the biggest the UK has ever hosted, the turnout was very impressive. The fears that some had that the turn out at the conference would be very low, gladly didn’t materialize. We saw over  500 reputable companies and over 1,000 participants.

Investors flew in from different parts of the world - The Princess of UAE was there, Princess of Bahrain, CEO’s of big companies across the world, the OIC, Saudi Fund etc.

AJ: So what message did your government tell the participants?

ZHB: Well, His Excellency, the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma made it very clear in his speech that even though the African continent was beset by a myriad of problems, sometimes necessitating humanitarian and other charitable assistance, investment potentials are great in many African countries, especially Sierra Leone. The President called on potential investors to commit themselves and do business in Sierra Leone.

AJ: Madam Minister, some people are of the opinion that even though peace has returned to Sierra Leone, the country is still insecure. Did the President assure them of their security?

ZHB: The President made it very clear to them that Sierra Leone is one of the top five countries in Sub-Saharan Africa when it comes to investor protection and the ease of starting a business. And the President informed them about how the World Bank, in one of its surveys says Sierra Leone has enjoyed the fastest improvement in political stability in the world over the past years. We promised them that if they invest in Sierra Leone, they will find it very rewarding and stable.

AJ: Did your government spell out specific areas of investment?

ZHB: Well,  Sierra Leone has many areas of investment. The President catalogued investment opportunities in many sectors of the economy including Energy, Fisheries, Agriculture, Mineral Resources, Tourism and many more.

AJ: Madam Minister, before I let you go and get some rest, do you mind telling me why you are in Saudi Arabia at this time of the year?

ZHB: I am here to perform the Hajj. And you know it is one of the five pillars of my religion, Islam. AJ, as am sure you know, the Hajj is obligatory for all able- bodied Muslims who can afford it. Like the millions assembled here at this time of the year, I am here to pray and ask Allah for forgiveness. As a practicing Muslim, I think it’s my faith that keeps me going. On a more personal note, this year’s Hajj is an opportunity for me to thank the Almighty Allah for my 50^th Birthday which will be in a month’s time. I will pray to God for all that He has done for me – Keeping me all these years, providing me with the health and strength to carry out my daily activities. Of course I would not forget to pray for our country and our leaders.

AJ: Thank you very much Madam Minister for taking your time to talk to me.

ZHB: Thank you Mr. Jalloh. It’s a pleasure talking to you.

By Alhaji Jalloh, Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy, Saudi Arabia.

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