BY: Problyn J. Alpha
The Kono Mineral Mining Review Project (KMMRP) a non-governmental organization working on social justice and development Advocacy in mining communities based in Kono District and the Diaspora working with stakeholders and policy Reformers to make the lives and livelihood of mining communities better by addressing historical injustices in the environment, mining and the overall socio-economic development of the people in mining enclaves has on Saturday 2nd December 2023,officially been commissioned in Koidu City.
The official launch of the said project in Kono District attracted a cross section of the paramount chiefs in the District and other stakeholders from different works of life including the press. In his chairman’s remarks the paramount chief of Fiama chiefdom Kono District PC Kontanday Mbriwa who also doubles as the former paramount chief member of Parliament in Kono District noted that he was elated to chair such a historic and important ceremony which objective is in line with his aspirations and therefore faithfully promised to share his skills and a document with members of the project for its success.
“I am particularly happy for the commissioning of the (KMMRP) because it has the potential of improving the District thereby unraveling what is responsible for the present underdevelopment of Kono District since diamonds were discovered in 1930 in the District.”
Paramount chief Mbriwa pointed out that there are three konos in the District; their ancestors, the present generation and those yet unborn or to come, noting the present kono’s are suffering because of the mistakes of their ancestors which he said will be in no doubt corrected by the operations of the project launched.
Whilst pledging their unwavering support as paramount chiefs for the success of the project, the former paramount chief member of Parliament in Kono District thanked members of KMMRP both in the Diaspora and the country for such a laudable lifesaving project.
Explaining the purpose of the official launch of the Kono Mineral Mining Review Project (KMMRP) in the District, the coordinator of the project Ibrahim Bockarie noted that the official commissioning of the project is a road map to social justice, good governance and the overall socio_ economic development of Kono District including other mining communities in the country.
He said the objective of the operations of the KMMRP is demanding by peaceful and democratic means what belongs to the Konos, thereby the state allowing the Konos to fully participate in their own developments. According to him, the lack of Basic amenities in the District is a mere disgrace. He said the central government cannot champion at the local level without the total involvement of the locals, as he put it ” Self-actualization can only be achieved by the total involvement of the locals themselves “Ibrahim Bockarie recalled how the Diamond Area Development Funds used to positively change the lives of people in mining host communities but this he said has stopped for no just reason(s).
Mr Bockarie further recalled how kono District being strategically located in the country was totally vandalized during the eleven years rebel war as a result of the District being so resourceful for the betterment of the country but the opposite is what is seen on the ground, adding it is owing to that back drop the Kono Mineral Mining Review Project is officially commissioned so that there will be a stop on the historical injustices the District has seriously suffered.
Since 1930 to date there’s little or nothing to write about the District that is endowed with so many natural resources. He said interns of potential and kinetic wealth’s Kono District is the breadbasket of the country but this he said doesn’t reflect on the District and the Konos.
According to him, the management of the natural resources has been the problem and as a result all mining agreements are only done between the government of Sierra Leone and the entrepreneurs and not the locals.
The coordinator KMMRP pointed out that since 1930 to date mining in the country has been characterized by deprivation, suffering and exploitation, noting the project launched is to totally change such status quo as the said historical injustices start with the white people and end with the black leaders.
The mining laws in the country he said are absolute and need to be thoroughly reviewed because paramount chiefs as custodians of the lands are not signitries to mining agreements and as a result konos in the Diaspora and the country have thought it fit to change such status quo with the operations of KMMRP and therefore implored all and sundry especially the paramount chiefs to support the project launched.
Ibrahim Bockarie cited Zimbabwe which mining laws are beneficial to her citizens unlike Sierra Leone which is the opposite.
The public relations officer of the council of paramount chiefs Kono District PC Abdulrahman Sorlorkor in his statement noted that most of the present mining laws were made during and just after the rebel war in the country where soldiers from the executive outcome of South Africa who came to fight for the country and Kono in particular gave some certain terms and conditions for fighting for the land which are still affecting the development of the District.
He blamed the members of Parliament from the District both past and present for what the District is going through because as law makers if they were going in unity and for the people in the District they should have by now changed such bad terms and conditions but rather a host of them are not in speaking terms with each other a situation he described as a recipe for total underdevelopment.
The ceremony was climaxed with questions and answer which gave other paramount chiefs opportunity to make meaningful contributions.
