In our 13-17 September 2012 edition we ran an interview with the candidate of the governing All People's Congress party for Mayor of Koidu City, Sahr Emerson Lamina. As promised we bring to you today an interview with the candidate of the main opposition Sierra Leone People's Party, Sia Elizabeth Tongu. She spoke to out Kono correspondent, Septimus Senessie.
SET: The race to become the SLPP candidate for the mayorship of Koidu City was quite competitive and I won because I was favored in the first place by the electoral college of our party. Even though the two of us that contested for the position were both popular, my development records in the district put me on top of the race.Politico: How was the race to become candidate for SLPP in Koidu and why do you think you won?
Politico: Was it a very tough challenge and what was your greatest fear?
SET: Well it was indeed a tough challenge because my opponent is also very well known in Kono. Anyway, in all of this, I was not having any fear because I knew I was going to win. The reason for that is that I have done a lot of things for Kono people especially the women when I was serving as the district coordinator for the 50/50 Group in Kono. I also served as Dean of the Institute of Advanced Management and Technology (IAMTECH) and all of these among other development strides undertaken by me, put me on top of that race.
Politico: Although the SLPP won all but one of the Parliament seats in Kono in 2007, in 2008, your party lost to the APC party. In addition, the VP in the APC government is from Kono, which will make it difficult for you to win in the November polls. Don’t you think so?
SET: Hmmm yes, you are right to say that SLPP had seven sets in 2007 and of course, the SLPP did not win the 2008 local council elections due to certain circumstances surrounding the election. But all in all, the VP being Kono man does not make any difference at all giving that, I have the firm conviction that SLPP is going to win these elections come November. The reason is simple. The APC themselves can attest to the fact that the VP and the councilors did not do anything in Kono that will make them proud of. To start with in the very first place, they could not vote for their Mayor and the incumbent councilors due to their poor performance over the previous years. This is to tell you that they really failed the Kono people plus the VP. The APC themselves know that truth and the only options they were left with was to change all of the councilors and the Mayor. If they had done well for their people, they would have maintained them to continue their good work.
Politico: If you are eventually elected Mayor of Kono, what would you do for the people of Kono?
SET: I am not going to be like the other people who promised that they will pave the City within a three-week period. To start with, I believe in participatory development by working with the people themselves as I cannot do everything all alone. That is the reason why we have councilors, ward development Committees, youth and women to do the work. And these are my areas of priorities: Designing sustainable programs that will focus on women and disabled people as you know I have the 50/50 ideology; invest in human capital development through education; establish youth entrepreneur services that will help in developing young people between the ages of 18 and 39; improve on health care delivery; campaign on HIV/AIDS; and establish an improved adult education program in the City.
Politico: Kono is one of the least developed districts in Sierra Leone; it lacks pipe borne water, good road network, electricity etc. How will you address these problems if you are elected Mayor?
SET: That is big one. Actually we by ourselves as a council will not be able to handle that but with the “New Direction” of our leader, Maada Bio through the help of our donors, we will ensure that all of these are in place so that Koidu can regain its city status.
Politico: OCTEA, formerly Koidu Holdings is the largest diamond mining company operating in diamond in the country and Civil Society organizations are questioning the agreement signed by the past administration with the company, which do not seek the welfare of the people. What have you to say about this allegation?
SET: I agree with them because the Kono people as a community are not benefiting much from the proceeds of the company. For instance, the houses they are constructing for the people are substandard with wooden windows and pit latrines. The houses are to be self-contained with all modern amenities. They should know that building those houses is not their corporate social responsibility but it is incumbent on them to build it for the people as a way of making ways to carry out their mining activities smoothly. Let me tell you, the way they are building those houses I am really afraid whether they will last long. The schools they constructed for the UMC Primary and Secondary Schools for Girls few months ago have developed serious cracks on the halls, which is life threatening to our feature leaders. You see those houses they have built are tinny without backyards for the women to do their back yard gardening and all of these are abuses on the rights of those women and their families. The resettlement camp of itself has no recreational centers and public health centre for the people in the camp. The company says on their website that they have been awarding scholarships to the children of Kono in Universities, but we have not seen any of the beneficiaries to come out publicly to make that known to the people of Kono. Again the working conditions of our people are very deplorable - working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for a little money. So with all this among others, our people are faced with serious problems. If I win the election, together with our leader, we will engage the company to address those issues.
Politico: What is your final commends?
SET: My final comment is to ask the people of Kono to vote in the SLPP, which is the party of development and a people-led government. And with me as mayor of Koidu, I will make a difference.
