Liberians in Monrovia spent the weekend shopping and piling up food and provisions as uncertainty grew over the fate of the run-off presidential elections scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 8.
The West Africa correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria observed that markets in the central town were overcrowded on Friday and Saturday as many struggled to beef up their stores.
The small, mostly one-way-street centre, was heavy on human and vehicular traffic, with long hours of waiting to negotiate to another road.
Monrovia city centre, which includes the Broad Street and Lynch Street, were all covered with traffic as people moved in and out of stores.
Monis Tellana, an Indian salesman on the Old Road, said that most businesses in the “food industry’’ thrived, while the “clothing, pleasure and luxury’’ industries saw a drop in patronage.
“People hardly move around in the night, not to mention going out to have drinks because of fear.
“Some people have moved out of the capital city, while others moved out of the country over the uncertainty.’’
On Sunday, our reporter observed that most shops along the roads and markets were closed, but sellers sprung up on roadsides to meet the demands of late buyers.
Traders displayed rice, meat, yams, fruits and vegetables on the old Road along Congo Town in Monrovia, with customers moving from table to table, haggling for good price.
A trader on the old road, Henriet Muller, said the prices of foodstuffs had increased due to high demand.
“We have to sell what we have and buy what we don’t have in the house,’’ she said.
According to her, the prices will keep shooting up until the results of the elections have been announced.
Prince Diggs, a motorcyclist, said that the chances of resorting to violence during the election was slim as many had learned their lessons and were tired of violence.
“We will go out and vote and we hope that nothing goes wrong.’’
Meanwhile, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf had in a nationwide broadcast on Saturday, allayed fears over security and urged the electorate to go out and exercise their civic rights without fear.
Election fever in the country was heightened by the opposition party’s announcement that it would boycott the elections.
The presidential candidate of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Winston Tubman, had announced on Friday that he was withdrawing from the race.
Tubman also said he was not satisfied with the process of counting of the first round of the election on Oct. 11 and called for a recount of the votes.
Meanwhile, the electoral commission’s acting Chairperson, Elizabeth Nelson, said the elections would hold on Tuesday in spite of the threats of boycott.
Courtesy: NAN.