The Bahomea House of Chiefs has been greatly encouraged by the recent visit of the Prime Minister to Marava in the Bahomea area. As the host community for the Tina Hydro Project, the Bahomea region has been concerned at the potential effects and impacts of the Hydro, but the PM’s delegation visiting us has given us reassurance that the government is serious about this project. We are honoured by the visit of the PM to our meeting at Marava on Saturday and pledge to continue making progress as landowners and communities.
The Chairman of the Bahomea House of Chiefs , Mr Whitlam Kikolo said “Bahomea and Malango are part of one another – when the PM visited Bahomea he was also visiting Malango. We value his visit because we welcome any opportunity to talk with the government.” He went on to say: “We are very happy with the progress we have made on land identification. The Bahomea house of Chiefs has fully supported the Bahomea Land Identification Committee through this last year to identify the blocks and tribes in the core area of the hydro, using customary knowledge. The PM’s visit is a good recognition of this work we have completed”.
On the subject of some disagreements raised and other differences between Bahomea and Malango these are matters for our two communities to address and not to disrupt the good progress of the Tina Hydro Project. “We are sad that there have been expressions of disagreement from certain individuals, but we all understand that this is a period of change. We know that there is always some resistance during change. Mr Kikolo reiterated that ‘’both communities of Bahomea and Malango should look forward to the positive developments that will be shared by all our people when the hydro is developed.”
Chief Kikolo further added that the visit is the best sign that the project is heading in the right direction, at the right time, and doing the right thing.
Whitlam Kikolo
Chairman, Bahomea House of Chiefs