As a way of promoting democracy and demonstrating political tolerance in their district, the Kailahun Women in Governance Network, on Friday, exhibited unity, love and respect for each other, despite their different political ideologies.
This historical event took place along the streets in Kailahun, where they assembled from the Luawa Women Centre to the Kailahun District Council, where they were called on stage in their different political parties colour T-Shirts.
The programme attracted traditional leaders, Political Parties representatives, the Police, Civil societies and supporters of the three political parties and other political parties, that were not part of the Women Network.
The Women Network consists of over 107 women groups with over 5,479 membership in Kailahun, aimed at increasing women participation governance as they constitute the bulk of the country’s population and also dominate the total number of registered voters for the November elections.
SEND Foundation Sierra Leone, based in Kailahun with the aim of ensuring gender equality in political governance that brings about development, organized this wonderful event for the Women network, as it had been working with them for over four years, by organizing training workshop among others on political tolerance for them.
Mohamed Osman, Country Programme Officer, SEND Foundation, maintained that SEND is targeting the poor marginalized women and men in society for them to be useful and contribute towards
national development as, ‘if there is gender in equality in society, it is very difficult for development to take place’, explaining that this is why they targeted the three main political parties that are in operation, when they SEND started working in the district.
He disclosed that the 36 women candidates who received symbols to contest the Local Council and Parliamentary elections in November, SEND provided campaign materials such as Calendar, Posters, Wall Bills and T-Shirt with each candidate’s portrait for the candidates not to be left out in the campaign. It was also revealed that SEND received support from Christian Aid, that is assisting in the area of Governance, Health and Livelihood.
The women candidates in their different political parties T-Shirts, embraced themselves on stage, as they sang and chanted their Network slogans “Power to women, Better development.
Vote women now, now, now” as they danced from end to end with the three different political parties District Chairmen joining the dance and called on their supporters to keep the peace and stay away from violence.
By Alhaji M. Kamara
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