By Politico Staff Writer
The Parliamentary Leader for the Coalition for Change (C4C), Honourable Saa Emerson Lamina has made a clarion call to all locals of Kono District to participate in this December Mid-Term Housing and Population Census.
The C4C Parliamentary Leader referred to the census process as an ‘effective and effectual’ campaign that begs for the need to sensitise and raise awareness among the electorate for their positive and active participation.
Honourable Lamina said it is their (C4C) moral responsibility as representatives of Kono District in the House of Parliament to mobilise the general electorate for pro-active participation in the census exercise.
He affirmed that the census is a ‘momentous’ event that all citizens should participate in since it is a key determinant in the development of any nation. He added that a boycott of the exercise could be a deliberate attempt bent on frustrating positive social and economic improvement especially in the areas of education, health, agriculture and transport among others.
Honourable Lamina said the previous census indicated that the district forms 7.1% of the country’s population and that that has determined their level of development.
He said the district has a diverse culture and tradition with 14 chiefdoms, 72 sections, 27 political wards, nine constituencies and two localities or councils. He added that they have 41 councillors including eight females, a mayor, a District Council Chairman and a youthful population of 58%.
He said irrespective of this geopolitical importance, the district is the most deprived with regards to infrastructure and other related developments since 96.6 % of the district was destroyed by the 10-year civil war.
He noted that the district city council, Koidu New Sembehun is least funded among the other 22 councils across the country.
The Parliamentarian said the Central Government has started to invest in Kono in their development programme by citing the 78-kilometre road between Koidu City and Mafindor. He also drew reference from the newly inaugurated Kono University of Science and Technology, an advanced stage of a pipe-borne water project for Koidu City and construction of major inter-chiefdom bridges as a beacon of hope for development for the district.
He said a cartographic survey conducted in 2020 predicted that the district may have an added population of about 51,000 people which would allow the formation of a new constituency and eventually a parliamentary seat.
Honourable Lamina concluded that the introduction of electricity, pipe-born water, road construction and the construction of schools and other tertiary institutions are precipitated by the size of the population.
He also admonished indigenes of Kono in the diaspora to ensure that they participate in the exercise for the progress of the district.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 17/12/21
