As the Question and Answer session continued at the National Assembly, Hon. Momodou Sanneh, Minority Leader and National Assembly Member for Kiang West, has raised eyebrows by questioning about the legitimate role and mandate of district chiefs in Gambian party politics.
Hon. Sanneh, who was speaking on Tuesday, said chiefs are important in the districts, and should not take part in party politics in the country.
According to the Minority Leader, the position of the district chief is very important and influential in our society, as the entire people in the district are answerable to them, and they are also the head of the district tribunal.
He asked the minister to tell parliament the legitimate role and mandate of district chiefs in Gambian party politics.
Responding to the question, Local Government and Lands minister Pierre Tamba told deputies that the chiefs are Gambians and, as Gambians, they have a stake like any other Gambian in the development of the country.
"Section 137 of the Local Government Act 2002 enumerates some of the functions of the Seyfo, and there is nowhere in the Local Government Act 2002, which says that a Seyfo should not participate in politics," Tamba stated.
