By Mohamed Vandi in Kenema
Both candidates in the Saturday parliamentary by-election in Constituency 001 in Kailahun district have extolled the need for the strengthening of the Bondo secret society. In exclusive interviews with Politico both Susan Bonah of the All People’s Congress and Patrick Foyah of the Sierra Leone People’s Party whose wife’s death necessitated the by-election both say the practice of female genital mutilation will remain and be encouraged if they win. Bonah said that without the support of the ‘Bondo’ society nobody would win an election in the Kailahun District with the society for women very prominent in the south and east of sierra Leone. She said the first priority for the Kailahun People was Bondo and that the situation was “either Bondo or no vote”. She said that of more than 90 towns and villages she had visited it was only in three communities where the people prioritised education, with rest focusing on Bondo. She said that in politics the felt needs of the people must first be addressed, and that wh en elected she would ensure that all the Bondo Houses are first rehabilitated or constructed. Bonah said that there were other vital issues like education and agriculture that would follow later, emphasizing that since the Bondo society was top on the agenda, she would also uphold it if elected. “I will tell the APC party that if they want to be winning elections in Kailahun, they should focus on the Bondo Society” she said. On her chances of winning, Susan said that even though everything
seemed to be going on fine with her confident of winning 75% of the votes on
Saturday, it had been difficult for her at the initial stages of the campaign. She said she now felt comfortable “with the women campaigning for me throughout the campaign period” which she attributed to the “awareness the people have got about gender mainstreaming”. Her challenger Ambassador Patrick Foyah said that the Bondo societ y “is a formidable society” that his people could not do without. He said the issue of gender was not visible as 85% of the women were prepared to vote him come Saturday. Foyah said Kailahun was SLPP and what they needed now was to reduce the votes cast for the APC in the November elections. He boosted of an 85% victory on Saturday. “I am a reputable citizen who has represented this country” the former ambassador to Liberia said, adding “My people know my record, so I need not re mind them". He said that of elected he would “continue the good work” of his late wife “who served her people diligently”. © Politico 26/09/13
