FILE PHOTO: South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Riek Machar meet at the State House in Juba, South Sudan February 20, 2020. REUTERS/Jok Solomun.
By Sarah Nyanaath Elijah Yong Kier. 24/06/2020, (RB) —
Irrefutably, the established institutions of the government of the Republic of South Sudan are ineffective and insignificant to deliver services to the public as mandated by the Constitution as
there is no infrastructure, worth facilities, social welfare services, and security services among
others, right from the national to local government levels. Besides, the Bill of Rights provided for
under the Constitution remains largely on paper, hitherto, the state is yet characterised by massive
abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens.
While, political leaders are lamentably busy with mismanaging public undertakings and resources
that could have alleviated peoples’ anguish; South Sudanese citizens are hopelessly languishing
about; not knowing where to turn to.
The constitutional post holders, predominantly, ministers, undersecretaries, commissioners as well
as county leaders are eventful and occupied with issues that are hardly pertinent to citizen’s affairs;
albeit, this claimed business commences on account of that which belongs to the public.
The poor
citizens and the under trodden have extremely botched to realize and enjoy the product of these
unsung and lavished mis-leaders renowned of assiduous workforce. To whom should South
Sudanese turn to, since these office bearers are busy-scheduled as such, whilst, having nothing to
do with attendance to the service to the citizen as mandated by laws? Should South Sudanese, as
celebrated for, turn and direct their concerns to IGAD, UN, Troika, etc.?
People are made to marvel as to which government wing is functional and operative; Legislative,
Executive or Judiciary? Which one is serving the country faithfully mirrored and reflected by the
state laws?
So long, they are unproductive and diminutive of meeting peoples’ expectations, the decision to
restructure and review the status thereof becomes inescapable. Until when shall the country be
taken for a ride for far too long?! We all belong to this country, a passage which dictates upon
everyone to take advantage of service rendered by the state, in order, to impact his/her life.
This aforesaid actuality calls for deep thought to rescue the country from current situation befalling
it into chasm. It is time to outwit the incompetent office bearers thus replace them with the
appropriate ones who shall, in turn, deliver services to the citizens and to move the country towards
development or salvage it from existing festered prominence.
How shameful it is to see people busy, when in actual fact, none has been and being produced all these
years. Citizens should repel the sense of condoning gobbledygook in public offices, lies promotion and maintenance of liars shouldered precious responsibilities.
We need citizens with integrity to serve the nation. The inept must go home where they shall
continue to enjoy idling and sleeping as it pleases them. They have turned public offices into
personal properties; an act which equates betrayal of the trust bested upon them and equally a
violation of the mandate provided for by the ethics and public mores.
The needs of South Sudanese, as well as, their facilities are guarded by the Constitution and the
laws. It is in this premise that, citizens should be accorded respect and be listened to, contrary to
the contemptuous attitude they often meet when they approach the constitutional office bearers.
Behold, it is time for South Sudanese to reverse the present-day objectionable standing by
espousing and ornamenting with the ethos of constitutionalism. The Constitution accords every
citizen the right to enjoy basic services which are now limited or lacking. Verily, it promotes
accountability and transparency regarding service delivery, but implementation remains lacking.
No one is above the constitution and the law; therefore, we need to remind ourselves, that the
constitution and the rule of law grants rights to all peoples of South Sudan being equal citizens.
We all have the right to protect and develop this nation. It is not, the responsibility of the few to
develop or destroy it. This is a God given right and one that we fought for, to be South Sudanese
and we must enjoy it, lest we shall bear the pain correspondingly. We must all abide by the law at
all levels and leaders must be role models and be exemplary to their subordinates, successors and
the public.
The best interest of the country is our collective responsibility and effort. It is now verified that,
those office bearers are feeling the pain of heaping up responsibility on themselves unfastened on
the principles of responsibility sharing and equal participation. If only heeded, the development
shall ever be swifter and the economy shall virtually be flourishing.
The only reason which explains the languishing and lazing of millions of South Sudanese emanates
primarily from economic collapse which begot poverty and dearth. Thence, its subsequent factors
antecede in form of insecurity of all forms, needles to mention daddy corruption with all its
formulae in the public spheres.
I beseech with all of us to only entrust women and men of veracity to serve the people in public
offices. And, until we come to believe that, South Sudan affairs should be spearheaded by its honest
sons and daughters, or else, we shall never ever make it to success like other prosperous nations. I rest my
case here.
(Sarah Nyanaath Elijah Yong Kier is a South Sudanese Gender Empowerment and Rights
defender who puts in South Sudan currently. She can be reached at sneykp@yahoo.com and the views expressed in this article are hers and do not reflect Ramciel Broadcasting’s)