Fighting corruption in South Sudan is extremely difficult – lawmaker

By Isaac Vuni

November 28, 2007 (Juba, Sudan) — The head of anti-corruption panel within the southern Sudan parliament stated that it is difficult to fight corruption. He further said that tribal and familial affiliations are behind this opacity.

Prof. Barri Wanji, chairman of Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) specialized committee on corruption said “In southern Sudan today people are stealing in millions Sudanese pound and they get away without being caught or made accountable as the concern authorities play down corruption involving their relatives and friends.”

Wanji, who is also the chairman of specialized committee of Economic, Development and Finance, said that ethnicity is the core issues involved in looting public funds as the looters are ready to rally support of their relatives to fight back by execrating looters from corruption accusation.

He went on saying that fighting corruption in Southern Sudan government during that last two and half years has proven extremely difficult because some top authorities are protective of their relatives who are alleged to have involvement in malpractices including swindling of public funds.

The well placed senior government officials together with their relatives are ready to hit back heavily on those exposing their dubious deals especially the local journalists who walk to seeks news, could become their target for assassination and making corruption to become a subjective means, remarks Hon prof. Wanji.

Speaking during a press conference in his office today afternoon, Prof. Wanji said “Corruption is corruption only when the case has been proven in a court”.

But the chairperson of Southern Sudan Anti Corruption Commission (SSACC) Dr. Pauline Riak say her commission has no power to investigate embezzlement of public funds because assembly has not yet assets a bill to that effect.

Nevertheless, Hon. Wanji said GoSS parliament has adopted some measures to fight corruption in southern Sudan, and that there is need to develop an objective method of dealing with corruption cases in southern Sudan governments and institutions.

“I am the chairman of SSLA specialized committee on corruption that takes on cases that has been proven to lead to finical problem for the economy of southern Sudan and we are now handling case of playing about with development fund of southern Sudan. I am also heading a committee that oversee all contracts signed between GoSS and contractors and will not leave any stone unturned then rendered our finding and recommendations to the august house to dealing with such cases;” revealed Prof Wanji.

He further underlined the need to provide the anti corruption authorities with the necessary structures and means to fight financial crimes and malpractices in the government.

“Although southern Sudanese police are doing their best to control crimes of any types, they still lack a lot of resources and essential equipments that would enable them to shiftily respond to any allegation of corruption. Besides, when police arrest suspected corrupt individuals, their cases are not deal with quickly hence it creates frustration to the nobel law enforcement agency.” He said.

Prof. Wanji emphasized that to effectively fight corruption, there must be an operational structure of police, security and army who must be well adapted to the struggle against corruption, otherwise, at the moment they are not, declared Prof. Wanji.

He also noted that poverty within southern Sudanese officials also has contributed greatly to rampant looting of public funds as the officials desired to acquire decent houses, better education for their children including medical care among other needs.

Nevertheless, Wanji warned that all southern Sudanese masses together with President Kiir must take strong measure to fighting corruption; otherwise there will be no development.

He suggested to associate all stakeholders in the development of objective criteria for combating corruption acceptable to all southern Sudanese.

President Kiir pledged and is in forefront to fighting corruption in all its forms in southern Sudan government and institutions.

The chairperson of SSACC, Dr. Pauline Riak is on record that her commission has no mandate to investigate corruption because Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly has not yet enacted a bill to enable SSACC persecute cases of corruption. Unless SSACC is directed with another special presidential decree, any investigation conducted by it is illegal, stated Dr. Pauline Riak.

In case of the newly launched Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Prof. Wanji said under his chairmanship, CDF committee will ensure that no single penny is misappropriated and if any one caught to have embezzled CDF money will be send to imprison for ten years.

Prof. Wanji said each MP will be given the sum of Sudanese pounds 140,000 for constituency development that has to be identify and prioritized by the committee of county development who are also fairly represented from county to village levels.

Adding that CDF is not a monopoly of SPLM but for all operating political parties in southern Sudan who have obligation to ensure that their constituency is developed to the expectation of the grassroots communities.

“CDF is a new idea and we are confident that our people will accept it for even development of war torn southern Sudan”, reassured Prof. Wanji

According to southern Sudan Interim constitution article 40(1), (2) and (3), CDF is meant to encourage a grassroots based development along the line of decentralization and equal sharing of the resources of southern Sudan by her citizens. It addresses the issues of poverty eradication at the grassroots level through the implementation of county based pro-poor projects which have long term effect of improving the people’s wellbeing by taking towns and services to the rural people than rural people coming to seek jobs in various towns of southern Sudan.

The Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly has on Monday November 26th 2007 passed the Constituency Development Fund bill for year 2007 and directed the chairman of specialized committee on Economic Development and Finance, Hon. Prof. Barri Wanji to follow with Goss presidency for quick assent and release of CDF money before the end of this year.

(ST)