Government through the Office of Lofa County Superintendent William Tamba Kamba has with immediate effect placed another moratorium on the disputed land between Selega in Voinjama District and Samodu in Quardu Gboni District in Lofa County.
The decision to place another moratorium on the disputed land over which conflict has raged for 82 years, is a result of the failure of the 18 representatives from Samodu Town to sign a resolution that was drafted and agreed upon by all 36 representative from both Selega and Samodu at the end of a two-day mediation meeting.
The forum was facilitated by the Lofa County Security Council (CSC) in collaboration with the Mitigating Local Dispute in Liberia (MLDL) held over the weekend at the Administration Building in Voinjama city, Lofa County.
The two-day conference was headed by Lofa County Superintendent Kamba who cautioned the citizens of both Selega and Samodu towns to reconcile, unite and cherish peace for the development of the two areas.
Announcing the indefinite moratorium placed by the Government on the disputed land on Wednesday, Mr. Borbor Saah Bornguoi, the Chief of Office Staff and proxy for Lofa County Superintendent Kamba, said the moratorium will be enforced by the imposition of a US$150,000 fine on anyone violating it until final ruling is given by the Lofa County Security Council (CSC) which is headed by Superintendent Kamba.
Bornguoi noted that government through the office of the Superintendent and its partners are tasked with the responsibility of settling local disputes across the country, emphasizing that any violator(s) shall pay the prescribed amount into government revenue, and not to the office of the Superintendent.
The total of 36 representatives from Selega and Samodu towns had earlier agreed in principle to accept the ruling from the Lofa County Security Council in the land conflict, and also promised to smoke the peace pipe after the ruling in the 82 year-old land conflict in the interest of both towns and districts in Lofa County.
They also promised to co-exist peacefully and to convene a meeting between themselves before the ruling and further pledged their unflinching support to whatsoever development project that the CSC may come out with to be implemented by both towns.
Both citizens also agreed to stay away from the disputed land and also eschew violence until the matter is resolved.
It can be recalled that due to the intensity of the land conflict between the peoples of Selega and Samodu towns, Government in 2015 placed a moratorium on the disputed land, but it was violated by both towns.
Under Superintendent Kamba, land disputes between Vahun and Wanhasa, Tower Hill and Bluyeama and Gbapolu have been settled, bringing a big boost to President George Weah’s Pro-Poor government.
LINA
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