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Sierra Leone tables radical land bills

  • Dr Turad Senessie, Lands minister

By Nasratu Kargbo

The clouds are clearing up and the dark days where women in the provinces could not enjoy equal or any inheritance from their father’s lands like their male siblings will soon be over. The bill entitled the Customary Land Rights Bill 2021 has proposed that women should enjoy equal land rights as their male family members. 

Clause 7(3) of the proposed bill states that:“Where family land is to be bequeathed or sub-divided among the family, both male and female members of the family shall be treated equally and enjoy the same rights”.

Speaking during the Pre-legislative hearing on 25 July 2022, member of Parliament from constituency 048 Aaron Koroma commended the venture, acknowledging that women have suffered for far too long. He noted the relevance of women's inclusion, highlighting that in the villages women are considered to be land users and not land owners.

Koroma explained that when it comes to the agricultural cycle, women use 70% of the lands, but that when those lands are leased, women are not considered. He therefore, commended that part of the proposed bill that indicates that even though the head of the family has the right and that women should be consulted before the land lease or agreement is signed.

He also expressed delight that the bill makes it mandatory to have women as part of the Land Committee. Clause 8(1) of the bill recommends that men and women in the community must be given equal opportunities in the appointment for membership in the land committee in the provinces. Whilst Clause 8(2) states that “At least 30% of each land committee shall be women”.

In Clause 8(3) the committee is charged with the responsibility of making sure that women’s rights are adequately protected and respected. The MP noted that the bill seems to be a progressive one, taking into account that it seeks to protect women’s land rights.

Representing Constituency 003 Hindolo Moiwo Gaveo made mention of the bill making provision for widows to be entitled or enjoy land left by their deceased spouses for a considerable time until they remarry. According to Clause 7(4) of the Bill: “The surviving spouse of a deceased member of a land-owning family shall be entitled to live on and enjoy the benefits from the deceased person's family land unless the surviving spouse remarries outside the family”.

Gevao emphasized the need for town hall engagements with their constituents in the provinces, noting that the law directly deals with them.  He stated that as MPs they legislate in Freetown, and that if those in the provinces do not understand or know of the existence of such laws, then the effort will be futile. Gevao made an example using the above benefits given to women, noting that if those in the urban communities do not understand, then the law will not be practised.

He said he would want to whether the Ministry has considered having MPs in the sensitization process.

“For us, in the rural setting it is the men that are in charge of the land, therefore let us have thorough education on this,” said MP Mustapha Musa Sellu from constituency 095.  

Just like Gevao, he also expressed concern about the country’s cultural history affecting the bill, saying bringing a bill that gives equal rights to the male and female of the family is a good one. However, he stressed the need for massive sensitization to be done in order to educate the people on the intent and purpose of the bill.

He maintained that for it to work proper awareness should be raised.  

Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning,Dr. Turad Senesie whilst responding to the questions posed by MPs, said that there are funds for engagement to popularize the bill, assuring that the MPs will be included in the process.

Customarily, lands and property were not shared equally amongst male and female siblings.  Men were always given more priority as compared to their female siblings.

Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (27/07/22)

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