Freetown — Hope Sierra Leone, the UN development agency, UNDP, and members of parliament have ended a dialogue session in the eastern township of Kono.

The dialogue marked the fifth chapter in a series of nationwide interactive dialogue fora for parliamentarians, mayors, chairpersons and traditional leaders.

Aimed at fostering national cohesion, promoting political tolerance and reconciliation among our parliamentarians for a sustainable peace, the dialogue was used as a basis for development in the country.

The launch in Kono was preceded by a peace march through principal streets in Kono and over one thousand supporters of the three major political parties of All Peoples Congress, Sierra Leone Peoples Party, and Peoples Movement for Democratic Change.

Also the police, military and civil society groups joined the peace march during which there was a symbolic display of tolerance and love among the three different political parties. Similarly supporters also relayed messages of peace, reconciliation, and solidarity through songs and placards.

The march pass to a larger extent has bridged the gap between APC and SLPP supporters in Kono. The rationale was that Hope Sierra Leone has realized that there had been pervasive tension and threat in Kono which could have undermined peace in the country. Therefore, the peace march and the dialogue created a forum for true confession, forgiveness and reconciliation among supporters of respective parties for national cohesion.

In his keynote address the founder of Hope Sierra Leone John Bangura gave an overview of his mission which he said is a call from God to come and serve humanity, and help in consolidating the peace in the country. Adding that, he lost nine members of his family during the eleven year rebel war, this made him nurtured a lot of hatred for the RUF, but his quest for revenge was altered through divine inspiration and then became a peace a roving peace ambassador in the country.

He therefore called on the people of Kono to refrain from violence, accept and forgive one another in the name of peace and reconciliation.

Bangura emphatically told the crowd that Kono would never develop if people did not change there attitude, noting that it was high time Kono people started thinking about development and stopped the intimidation and violence.

He admonished them to bear in mind that they were all Sierra Leoneans therefore they must look at each other as brothers and sisters.

Paramount chief of Gbense chiefdom Aiah Kamanda encouraged his subjects to reconcile and heal the wounds of the past for national cohesion.

He maintained that development should be the interest of all and not party differences. The chief commended Hope Sierra Leone and UNDP for bringing them together through inter-party dialogue for peace and development.

The nine brigade commander Major Tamba Yamba informed the gathering that they should all come on board to preach peace in the district, adding that development could only occur where there is peace.

The support officer Motema police station ASP Mohamed Kamara intimated that the police have the moral obligation to maintain peace adding that the police remain committed in serving the people.

He described the dialogue as a welcomed initiative especially when the facilitation is done by cross section of the police, military and civil society.

ONS coordinator, the civil society and political representative and parliamentarians present also made meaningful contribution during the program.

The post launching witnessed a three-day intensive interactive dialogue among the MPS, traditional heads, mayors, councilors and party representative at the Kumba Satta hall. They dialogue on some of the challenges facing the country such as Corruption, root causes of under development, attitudinal change and the moral challenge to heal the bitterness of the past.

The dialogue further strengthened teamwork and trust building among participants. Besides participants also made an open confession of sins committed and grudge nurtured against certain people during the past elections but through the dialogue they were able to heal the wounds and have forgiven those who had offended.