“I experience the hell working without salary”- MAF Female Operator Disclosed

By: Amadu Wurie Timbo

Popular heavy machinery operator working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Madam Hawa Foday has bitterly expressed dismay on the Government of Sierra Leone following her eight years tireless-working period that reflects no salary.

The highly focused woman started her working exercise as Machinery operator in 2014 with the ambition to actualize adequate food for the citizenry of Sierra Leone through her selfless efforts in operating heavy-duty machines for large scale farmers, farming in the northern part of Sierra Leone.

In an exclusive interview with this medium, Madam Foday revealed that, her decision to join the trade is considered as a better way to complement government effort in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal two (SDG2), which is ‘Zero Hunger’ and either perceived as a better way to realize livelihood for herself and her dependent family.

According to her, female gender must not be considered as disability in nation building inasmuch as, she operates complex farming machines such as tractors, combined harvesters, power tillers, etc. a work that many men cannot dare to do.

Madam Foday further disclosed that, she has been tirelessly working in both day and nights of all times to make ends meet, but government still makes life become difficult for them which undermine work efficiency.

“I choose to play a role different from the narrative people tell about gender, ranging from the power of assumption behind policy making and effective parts played in nation building; a prove that indicates the ability of women in doing what men do, yes I rightly understand that, being a machinery operator is difficult but I still lunched the challenge. 

Sadly, in my eight years’ service at MAF, I experience the hell working without salary. This only takes courage and the grace of God for me to continue.” She disclosed.

She emphasized that, her only hope of survival is not from government but farmers who offer her paltry cash as reward of her long rigorous working periods in farmlands; which only happen in farming seasons.

Madam Hawa Foday miserably called on Government to come to her aid and pay her monthly salary, If not for gender reason, government should look in to her living strides in the drive to provide adequate food in the country.