WASHNET Engages Parliament

OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF PARLIAMENT

PARLIAMENT BUILDING

OAU DRIVE, TOWER HILL

FREETOWN

Tel:  232-076-615187

E-mail: admin@parliament.gov.sl

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                      PRESS RELEASE

02^ND DECEMBER, 2016

WASH-Net Engages Parliament on Water Coordination

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Network (WASH-Net), a local non-governmental organization geared towards coordinating and advocating for water and sanitation to be key in the development of the livelihood of the people, on Thursday 01^st December 2016, at the Administrative Building in Parliament, engaged the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Water Resources, chaired by Hon. Sualiho M. Koroma in a one day dialogue forum with the theme “enhancing sector governance and financing”.

Giving an overview to MPs, Managing Director for WASH-Net, Victor Koroma said among other things that their aim is to have a joint parliamentary engagement on how to advocate for an increase in the budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Water Resources. He called on MPs to support this initiative by advocating for the said Ministry to achieve its objectives.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Sualiho M. Koroma welcomed the dialogue forum and pledged Parliament’s support to the process. He promised to see that the Committee on Water championed the cause of water related issues with the view of advocating for more resources to be given to the water sector to enhance the livelihood of the people.

Presenting the activities of WASH-Net, Emmanuel Sandy averred that the organization is focused on tracking budgetary allocation to the water sector, advocacy, sector governance, trend of expenditure, and late disbursement of funds.

Representing Water–Aid, Aruna Augustine Kamara spoke on the relationship between the two organizations, whilst noting advocacy for the improvement of water and sanitation in the country. He also called on MPs to kindly support the development of the water sector.

Charting the way forward, MPs appreciated the engagement and promised to raise the issue discussed in the Well of Parliament during the 2017 budget approval process.

Department of Public Relations

Parliament of Sierra Leone

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Politics

ZainabBangura ends UN contract to return home for good

By Ahmed Sahid Nasralla (De Monk)

Hilary Clinton may have controversially lost the US Presidential elections after an illustrious political career spanning 30 years, but that has not dampened the spirit of one of her protégés, Zainab Hawa Bangura, to pursue her ambition to lead Sierra Leone in the near future.

After months of speculation Madam Bangura has perhaps given the first indication that she is entering the race to lead her party, the All People’s Congress (APC), to the next national polls in 2018.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, according to a very close family source, “will not be renewing her contract with the United Nations when it expires at the end of December 2016 and has given notice to the incoming Secretary General, that she is coming back home to be a part of the political process”.

The current Secretary General’s term also comes to an end on December 31st 2016.

ZHB (as she is now fondly called by family, friends and colleagues) flew in quietly on Saturday 12th November, 2016 on what can probably be described as the start of her journey to become the next President of the small but rich West African country.

Family sources say ZHB will be here till first week January 2017. While here, she will hold consultative meetings with the leadership of the APC as well as party stakeholders. Already, names of many personalities eyeing the flag-bearer position of the party post-Ernest Bai Koroma have been tossing around, but ZHB’s is the only female in the mix.

Family sources say she’s beaming with confidence despite realizing she’s got a real battle in her hands to overcome her male counterparts. 

“She’s confident because she has an enviable track record. And she’s coming home because she thinks having received so much from Sierra Leone, she feels it is time for her to give back,” said her cousin, Idrissa Kamara.

Meanwhile, we learnt that ZHB will spend Christmas in her home town of Yoni in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone, a tradition for her according to Idrissa.

“She’ll spend Christmas with her family in the village and make sure the kids in the entire village have a memorable Christmas; and she’ll inspire them to work hard to become responsible citizens their community will look up to tomorrow,” said Idrissa.

It must be noted however that no date has been set for her official declaration but as we await that, people have a right to know who actually is Zainab Hawa Bangura, and why she thinks she is the best person to lead the APC and eventually her country?” (See next article).