From burning transformers, swept away highway and to collapsed Juba Stadium, the credibility of contractors and the engineers at work is shining a light on disasters that lay in the near future. The exposure of these futile and disastrous works are paving ways for clear vision on what to expect, at least, in the near future.
These construction companies enter into contracts and are given huge sums of money by the government but give so little in return.
In May this year, Juba-Rumbek Highway was critically damaged after heavy rains which left its sections hanging loosely detaching and falling away from the foundation, seeming to have been subjected to prolonged soil erosion.
The news spread like wild fire and the resulting incident was the sacking of the minister for Presidential Affairs, Mayiik for what the President termed as a failure to perform the duty with integrity. The case with the contractors was openly viewed as a fraudulent.
In pursuit of satisfactory services, a June petition by the Kush Advocates and Solicitors demanded the government and the company, to explain the damage and failure to design the road in a proper way.
They also demanded that the contract between the company and government should be disclosed for the interest of the public.
The Kush Advocates and Solicitors in a statement to Eye Radio said that failure to respond to the petition would attract a lawsuit.
“The way the Rumbek-Juba highway is being constructed, we have seen it is not good for the public,” one of the advocates, Joseph Majak Madut said.
“There are defaults in that road, we have seen last week how poorly it was constructed, in one day rain just washed it away and that goes to the quality of the road that is been deliver to the people of South Sudan.”
He said due to the poor design of the road, surrounding communities are now facing floods.
“Water channels, watercourses are blocked and that resulted to flooding to the surrounding communities and their lives have been affected, that is why we have decided to give the notice of intention to sue, and if there’s no further remedy then we will take them to the court of law,” lawyer Majak added.
Though the case remains in the shadow, the outcome of the project by Shandong Hi-Speed company was highly criticized by the ordinary citizens.
This month, and barely two days ago, the busily being renovated Juba Stadium collapsed. A section which seem to have been unconcernedly constructed caved in.
Drawing a concern from public attention, contractor defended the company by saying that the collapsed part of Juba Stadium was a minor issue, and it won’t stop the construction work: Qarma Chevroa, the project executive director of the Ethiopian owned GS Construction Company that is undertaking the construction of Juba Stadium said.
According to the company, the main reason for the collapse of the part of the main cabin of Juba stadium was due to collision of a crane. He said the crane broke it’s sum which in turn led to the collapse of cabin.
Youth & Sports Minister Albino Bol had yesterday called off the construction work at Juba Stadium and ordered investigation into the incident.
Engineering is a path taken by a few and those that are capable of, given that its ‘misguide’ or ‘misunderstanding’ could results into grave disasters which could threaten human life.