Turn SPLM registered membership cards into cash
By Isaiah abraham
September 26, 2007 — The Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM), between May and June this year went hunting for supporters in major towns in the country. The official figure of registered sympathizers or members is reported to be around 5 million members. If we believe the source and this figure, then this party is a major political force others must take it serious or ignore it for their own risk. There is no doubt that this party is indeed very popular among the middle and grass roots levels. If the organizers of that party had money to get in to every County and Puma levels at ease, I believe this party would be a force to beat, in the South and in the North, be it at the distant and near future.
If that is the case then, why is this party not taking chances? Why is it starving of cash? The reason is this: lack of resource mobilization and organization. The party top brass never paid damn attention to these exercises that could have helped them organize party activities. They casually remarked something similar to this but ended up there. The party needs to strengthen its branches at State and County levels. To do this there is dire need for money. States and Counties level is where most of any political fights become dogged. Therefore translating 5 millions loyalists into cash should be revisited by the party. The ordinarily way of doing it, as it happens everywhere is to make members pay prescription fees monthly or annually. Monthly payment works well.
If each member pays 1 (one) Sudanese Pound (SP) each month, then the party would scoop 5 millions SP monthly. If one pushes it a little higher, to raise this figure to 10 SP from middle grade to super- which we shall assumed to be 1 million members, here again we shall get 100 million SP which is 50 thousands USD a month. Bribe (woes) thereafter five key National Congress Party (NCP) swingers or Southern Political Forces ever moving elements each month using this amount, the party within a span of remaining four years would be a horse racing with donkeys and mules, as one politician in East Africa used to deride his opponents. That is the dirty part of this game (money).
But the real use of this money could go beyond this. We should be crying aloud in the open than in hiding as we hear words of disquiet coming straight from party die heart cadres against the SPLM Secretariat. The SPLM Secretariat is coming under barrage of attacks from party members due to its lack of democratization and organization at its organs. That means election on key positions of the party, such as the Vice Chairmanship, Organizing Secretary, Foreign and Treasurer are not elected or yet to be filled. Another whispering voice is whether the party should elect its representatives right from the top to the bottom other than just nominates or endorses. To many it is possible but costly. In our current state of affairs democracy and others have to wait. We are still a polarized society and yet out to shun tribalism or provincialism.
Commendably, our leaders in Juba and Khartoum are doing whatever they are trying to do to keep us together, and this should be applauded. Unity in diversity is beautiful, but we got to exercise maximum vigilance all over our shoulders incase seeds of discord and disunity might drop shoots among our people. The going isn’t easy and tough times are still ahead. Reading from our President’s tone on Sunday, it was a spiral from straight talk, to frustration that led to depression and finally resignation across his face. Picking then from there, nobody knows whether the boat that carries us will surely reach its intended destination or not! But the party, the leader and his team are doing their best to keep the boat afloat. It good that we know where the enemy’s hit us most-divide and rule, we won’t allow it to happen again. We should then prepare our heads as well as our pockets to stand on our own. We shall overcome!!!
Though there is a feeling of disrepute as to the ability of party chief (SPLM Secretary General) in running its affairs, particularly his disciplinary measures or appraisal approach towards his senior party officers (i.e. Party Officers at State levels), Mr. Amum is doing a sterling job there; torn between his party principles as to good governance at higher levels and his own organization problems. That is not simple job, isn’t it?
The state party secretaries are accused of being arrogant, chest-thumpers, and political feather weights. Majority of them are young and inexperienced, it’s charged. But this is not enough in it self. People learn through challenges. Age isn’t a deal, character is. The only problem to observers however is that majority of them are poor public relation carriers. It could be a scare to those who want to jump ship. It’s not enough to feature in national occasion’s drabbed in party symbols all around your body; which is in itself is good, but it would be good for these gentlemen to fight smart behind the scene when there is no real occasion coming around. Shaking hands alone is an issue from those men to other members of another political divide, let alone visiting them in their homes and share political flat forms and gatherings. They are said to be detached and disparaged instead they should have been Officers of true change in their contact abilities and how they carry themselves and party ideals. Some of them are doing good work but not all of them. The political ground is very fertile but there are few genuine activists to make it productive. The inalienable truth is here: the party is rich in human activism and support bases which they should have use for the good of the party.
Just to repeat the theme, the party needs money and there is no safe way to let the party get that money from Bank of Southern Sudan (BOSS) without any legal challenge from other political parties and concerned civil society organizations. Party members must cough up something. This should be mandatory or voluntarily (whichever). Mr. Amum truly will have enough money to market any candidate and organize conventions and conduct important party meetings with less hassle as to cash. But that upcoming election (which in my rightful thinking should be deferred) the party needs money to level political field with money-stuffed ruling political party known to many as National Congress (NCP).
The SPLM party in its presence forms isn’t prepare and time ahead is so limited for any miracle to happen within its structure, except chaos and divisions that would go down to affect the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) if there would be no money to sponsor activities. This is because other ‘rich’ parties will prey in this pool. The “program for life” tagged as New Sudan is heading to the grave unless radical surgical methodology is sought by the Party. This is a noble grand project and lack of money would kill it. Again this idea must not be confined to Southern Sudan. Northern nationals who joined the SPLM are beginning to doubt the original direction of the party. Though the manifesto remains the same, others are seeing the country slowly and surely moving into regionalism (East, West and the South). But the New Sudan idea is and has been an open ended dream. It was for everyone who felt aggrieved and denied rights in the country. Unsurprisingly, others in the North such as Darfur and the main Northern Opposition Forces are toying with the idea that the CPA wasn’t cast on stones. Eh! That is too dangerous ground to tread. Anyone daring there touches our very blood! This agreement (CPA) may be is the mother of all other agreements between the two nations, and its demised is not in the interest of the country and the region, goes the prediction. It might arguably but also undoubtedly serves as the last agreement Southern Sudan signed with the North, whether it’s implemented or not.
Events have overtaken expectations and therefore prudent if our society could exercise patience and stay united under its current leadership however difficult the going as far as governance in the South is concerned. It time to prioritize. Here come some unavoidable queries: was democracy and its benefits our main cause of our grievances or was it peace? Was the power one major reason why we lost 2 million lives or was it wealth? What of freedom, justice and equality? Do you know that some of our leaders are blowing kisses with the NCP and opponents of the CPA in the name of partnership, because of power, wealth, prestige and status? If you don’t, then watch out, our quest for freedom is at risk. It was thought it would be partnership based on mutual respect on issues that build and develop the Sudan. We still respect the NCP to deliver on its promises. But it takes more than just a slogan and lofty ideas to free South Sudan. We need each other more than any other time if that day would be realized, when our voting cards hang close to our heart in our coats. Referendum is our fulcrum, others in this period aren’t!
Therefore, Dr. David De Chand and his new formed group ought to join the SPLM, Union of Sudan African Party (USAP I or II) or Dr. Martin E. Lomuro’s Democratic Forum, and help improve and strengthen our political situations. Here and there he shall claim anything useful for the people of Southern Sudan. The USAPs or The Forum is enough to keep the governing party in the Southern on its toes. Dr. David is a great thinker and true Southerner. If he chooses to stay in that new outfit, it may be seen as bane of another anarchical, suicidal and meaningless quest for ‘change’ just as it occurred in Nasir sixteen year ago within the SPLM/A family. That rebellion haunts our psyche. Our people die senselessly under carelessness from our leaders. It remains as an inexcusable episode no matter what baptism we might dubbed unto it, whether we call it ‘blessing in disguise’ or ‘disguise in the blessing’ to justify it. It was a stupid act, like any other act taken by the mainstream SPLM/A groups! Ask then why…
The author is based in is Southern Sudan. He can be reached at [email protected]