Bonthe District
Encyclopedia
Bonthe District comprises several islands in the Atlantic Ocean
off the southwestern coast of Sierra Leone
and a mainland area. Its capital is the town of Mattru Jong
and the largest town in the district is Bonthe
, on Sherbro Island
and the town of Masabendu.
Bonthe District is the least populous District in Sierra Leone, with a population of 139,687 (2004 census
). The district is primarily inhabited by the Sherbro people
(who are the native people of the district); and the Mende people
, who immigrated to the district from Mende-dominant areas in the southern part of Sierra Leone.
The District occupies a total area of 3,468 km² and comprises eleven chiefdoms
. The District of Bonthe borders the Atlantic Ocean
to the west, Moyamba District
to the northwest, Bo District
to the southeast and Pujehun District
to the south.
Bonthe District has one of the world's largest deposits of titanium
ore (rutile) in the world. Sierra Rutile Limited, owned by a consortium of US and European investors, began commercial mining operations in Bonthe in early 1979. Due to poor mining policy, the region has little to show for this huge economic potential. There are no good roads, water supply or electricity. Bonthe District continues to suffer from one of the worst environmental degradation episodes in living memory.
. The Bonthe District is headed by the District Council Chairman; he and the Municipal Mayor are the highest local government officials in the district of Bonthe. The District Council Chairman and the Municipal Mayor are responsible for the general management of the district and for seeing that all local laws are enforced. The District Council Chairman is elected directly by the residents of Bonthe District. The current District Council Chairman of Bonthe District Council is Moses Probyn of the Sierra Leone People's Party
(SLPP). He was elected in a landslide victory in the July 2008 Sierra Leone local government election.
(PMDC). In the 2007 Sierra Leone presidential and parliamentary Elections, the PMDC won the majority of the votes only in Bonthe District. The party also won the majority of the seats in Parliament from Bonthe District.
The District has eight Representatives in the Parliament of Sierra Leone
, of which eight were elected for a 5-year term in the 2007 Sierra Leone General Elections. The district is a stronghold of the main opposition party, the Sierra Leone People's Party
(SLPP). Below are the list of Representatives in the Sierra Leonean Parliament:
, along the Jong River, which provides access to Sherbro Island
and the Atlantic Ocean.
to undertake voluntary resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 1997 among all economic hardship and combatant activities. The District suffered the mass exodus of IDPs when Sierra Rutile Company (the largest foreign exchange earner, taxpayer and employer of mine workers) suffered damage and destruction when attacked by fighting forces in 1995, and during all phases of the war. The company terminated its operations.
Many indigenes, however, believe that the resettlement and rehabilitation activities of IDPs and restart of mining
operations will help fast track the recovery process. They believe this could complement government in consolidation of peace and the drive for recovery.
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
off the southwestern coast of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
and a mainland area. Its capital is the town of Mattru Jong
Mattru Jong
Mattru Jong commonly known as Mattru is a major fishing town on the mainland of Bonthe District in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. It is located along the Jong River, 52 miles southwest of Bo. It is the seat of the Jong Chiefdom, and home of Paramount Chief Alie Badara Sheriff III. The...
and the largest town in the district is Bonthe
Bonthe
Bonthe is a town located on Sherbro Island in Bonthe District of the southern Province of Sierra Leone. The town had a population of 9,535 in the 2004 census, with a current estimate of 10,206. In colonial times it used to be a major trading centre for piassava and other agricultural products...
, on Sherbro Island
Sherbro Island
Sherbro Island, is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, located in Bonthe District off the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. The Sherbro make up by far the largest ethnic group in the island....
and the town of Masabendu.
Bonthe District is the least populous District in Sierra Leone, with a population of 139,687 (2004 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
). The district is primarily inhabited by the Sherbro people
Sherbro people
The Sherbro people are a native people of Sierra Leone, who speak the Sherbro language; they make up 3% of Sierra Leone's population or about 201,000. They are also known as the Bullom people...
(who are the native people of the district); and the Mende people
Mende people
The Mende people are one of the two largest and most dominant ethnic group in Sierra Leone, along with the Temne. The Mende make up 30% of Sierra Leone's total population or 1,932,015 members...
, who immigrated to the district from Mende-dominant areas in the southern part of Sierra Leone.
The District occupies a total area of 3,468 km² and comprises eleven chiefdoms
Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone
||The Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone are the third-level units of administration in Sierra Leone. The districts of Sierra Leone are divided into chiefdoms.-Bombali District:*Bombali Shebora - Makeni*Makari Gbanti - Masongbon...
. The District of Bonthe borders the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
to the west, Moyamba District
Moyamba District
Moyamba District is a district in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone with a population of 260,910 in the 2004 census. Its capital and largest city is Moyamba. The other major towns include Njala, Rotifunk and Shenge...
to the northwest, Bo District
Bo District
Bo District is the second most populous district in Sierra Leone and is located in the Southern Province of the country. Its capital and largest city is the city of Bo, which is the second largest city in Sierra Leone. The other major towns in the district include Baoma, Bumpeh, Serabu, Sumbuya,...
to the southeast and Pujehun District
Pujehun District
Pujehun District is a district in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital is the town of Pujehun . The other major towns in the district include Gandorhun, Zimmi, Bomi and Potoru.The district has a 2010 estimated population of 276,970....
to the south.
Bonthe District has one of the world's largest deposits of titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
ore (rutile) in the world. Sierra Rutile Limited, owned by a consortium of US and European investors, began commercial mining operations in Bonthe in early 1979. Due to poor mining policy, the region has little to show for this huge economic potential. There are no good roads, water supply or electricity. Bonthe District continues to suffer from one of the worst environmental degradation episodes in living memory.
Demography
Bonthe District is mainly inhabited by the Mende and Sherbro people. The Mende are the largest ethnic group in the district, with 45% of the population; followed by the Sherbro at 40%, and another 15% from various other Sierra Leonean ethnic groups.Government
Bonthe District is divided into two political administrations; the district headquarter town on the Sherbro Island is headed by a Municipal Mayor, and the main land is governed by a district council Chairman based in Mattru JongMattru Jong
Mattru Jong commonly known as Mattru is a major fishing town on the mainland of Bonthe District in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. It is located along the Jong River, 52 miles southwest of Bo. It is the seat of the Jong Chiefdom, and home of Paramount Chief Alie Badara Sheriff III. The...
. The Bonthe District is headed by the District Council Chairman; he and the Municipal Mayor are the highest local government officials in the district of Bonthe. The District Council Chairman and the Municipal Mayor are responsible for the general management of the district and for seeing that all local laws are enforced. The District Council Chairman is elected directly by the residents of Bonthe District. The current District Council Chairman of Bonthe District Council is Moses Probyn of the Sierra Leone People's Party
Sierra Leone People's Party
Sierra Leone People's Party is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with the All People's Congress .-Formation:...
(SLPP). He was elected in a landslide victory in the July 2008 Sierra Leone local government election.
Major towns
- Mattru JongMattru JongMattru Jong commonly known as Mattru is a major fishing town on the mainland of Bonthe District in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. It is located along the Jong River, 52 miles southwest of Bo. It is the seat of the Jong Chiefdom, and home of Paramount Chief Alie Badara Sheriff III. The...
, district capital (2010 estimated pop. 8,199) - BontheBontheBonthe is a town located on Sherbro Island in Bonthe District of the southern Province of Sierra Leone. The town had a population of 9,535 in the 2004 census, with a current estimate of 10,206. In colonial times it used to be a major trading centre for piassava and other agricultural products...
, on Sherbro IslandSherbro IslandSherbro Island, is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, located in Bonthe District off the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. The Sherbro make up by far the largest ethnic group in the island....
(2010 estimated pop. 10,206)
Members of Parliament
Bonthe District is a stronghold of the People's Movement for Democratic ChangePeople's Movement for Democratic Change
The People's Movement for Democratic Change is a liberal party in Sierra Leone. It is a breakaway faction of the Sierra Leone People's Party . It was officially registered on 19 January 2006...
(PMDC). In the 2007 Sierra Leone presidential and parliamentary Elections, the PMDC won the majority of the votes only in Bonthe District. The party also won the majority of the seats in Parliament from Bonthe District.
The District has eight Representatives in the Parliament of Sierra Leone
Parliament of Sierra Leone
The unicameral Parliament of Sierra Leone is the country's legislative body. It is sometimes known as the House of Representatives.The current Parliament, formed following elections held on 14 May 2002, has a total of 124 members. 112 members are directly elected in multi-member constituencies...
, of which eight were elected for a 5-year term in the 2007 Sierra Leone General Elections. The district is a stronghold of the main opposition party, the Sierra Leone People's Party
Sierra Leone People's Party
Sierra Leone People's Party is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with the All People's Congress .-Formation:...
(SLPP). Below are the list of Representatives in the Sierra Leonean Parliament:
| Name | Party |
|---|---|
| Bassie Agnesie | PMDC People's Movement for Democratic Change The People's Movement for Democratic Change is a liberal party in Sierra Leone. It is a breakaway faction of the Sierra Leone People's Party . It was officially registered on 19 January 2006... . |
| Arthur Harvey | SLPP Sierra Leone People's Party Sierra Leone People's Party is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with the All People's Congress .-Formation:... |
| Solomon Bangali | SLPP Sierra Leone People's Party Sierra Leone People's Party is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with the All People's Congress .-Formation:... |
| Jonathan Sama | SLPP Sierra Leone People's Party Sierra Leone People's Party is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with the All People's Congress .-Formation:... |
| Brima Conteh | PMDC People's Movement for Democratic Change The People's Movement for Democratic Change is a liberal party in Sierra Leone. It is a breakaway faction of the Sierra Leone People's Party . It was officially registered on 19 January 2006... |
| Kaine P. Thomas | PMDC People's Movement for Democratic Change The People's Movement for Democratic Change is a liberal party in Sierra Leone. It is a breakaway faction of the Sierra Leone People's Party . It was officially registered on 19 January 2006... |
| P.C. Paramount chief A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple... Margaret Thompson Seibureh |
Non party-allied |
Economy
The main economic activities include fishing, rice growing and palm oil plantations. Mattru is the main city, located 52 miles southwest of BoBo, Sierra Leone
Bo is the second largest city in Sierra Leone and the largest city in the Southern Province. It lies about 164 miles south-east of Freetown and had a population 149,957 in the 2004 census, with a current estimate is 231,494 . The city serve as the capital and administrative center of Bo District...
, along the Jong River, which provides access to Sherbro Island
Sherbro Island
Sherbro Island, is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, located in Bonthe District off the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. The Sherbro make up by far the largest ethnic group in the island....
and the Atlantic Ocean.
Effects of the civil war
Bonthe district was first among the districts in the Southern ProvinceSouthern Province, Sierra Leone
The Southern Province is one of three provinces of Sierra Leone. It covers an area of 19,694 km² and has a population of 1,377,067 . It consists of four districts . Its capital and administrative center is Bo, which is also the second largest and second most populated city in Sierra Leone...
to undertake voluntary resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 1997 among all economic hardship and combatant activities. The District suffered the mass exodus of IDPs when Sierra Rutile Company (the largest foreign exchange earner, taxpayer and employer of mine workers) suffered damage and destruction when attacked by fighting forces in 1995, and during all phases of the war. The company terminated its operations.
Many indigenes, however, believe that the resettlement and rehabilitation activities of IDPs and restart of mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
operations will help fast track the recovery process. They believe this could complement government in consolidation of peace and the drive for recovery.