South Sudan lawmakers pass anti-corruption act
By Isaac Vuni
March 23, 2009 (JUBA) — The Anti-corruption Act today passed unanimously with the votes of eighty-nine lawmakers and the support of the cabinet minister of legal affairs and constitutional development, who is empowered to implement the policy of zero-tolerance for corruption declared by President Salva Kiir Mayardit in 2006.
Hon. Speaker James Wani Igga described the act as being second only to the interim constitution of Southern Sudan in terms of priorities and emphasized the act would empower a commission of anti-corruption officials to enter any government institutions without prior notice to conduct investigations on government officials suspected of looting public properties and funds.
Earlier, Hon. Jimmy Wongo Miji (USAP, Morobo constituency), chairman of the specialized committee on public accounts, had urged legislators to pass the bill in its third and final reading so that looters of public fund and properties can be legally apprehended by the anti-corruption commission officials.
Meanwhile, Hon. Oliver Mori Benjamin challenged parliament to be exemplary to other institutions by not condoning corruption, demanding that the assembly account including funds for chairpersons and deputies be audited.
“We have passed many vital acts but our executive are reluctant in implementing them; probably they assume themselves to be above lawmakers,” remarked Hon. Martin Aligo.
Critics note there is little to celebrate as the August House is at the center of promoting corruption. Hon. Sebit Abe said corruption is rampant in the south but requires serious action by the new anti-corruption commission without nepotism or favouritism.
He challenged parties’ leaders to crosscheck performance of their MPs and their respective contributions to debate in the assembly on vital topics of national deliberation; otherwise, he warned, some MPs are only going to earn huge salaries without properly presenting their people and parties.
Mel mosa
South Sudan lawmakers pass anti-corruption act
Good Job Southern Sudan lawmakers. Make sure the qualify people should be hire in the positions. Lack of education for people who are in important positions encourage more corruption in the government of Southern Sudan. Leaders always hire non qualified relatives because there is not resricted laws to finish them. So, corruption Prevented progress of development in Southern Sudan while there is enough money for development. God Bless You and God Bless Southern Sudan.
Thanks
Mel
Maruon Ayiei
South Sudan lawmakers pass anti-corruption act
This bill will not be implemented because it will be like the one in 2006. The comtroller of GOSS need to be a man of integrity but not a self saved individual. This is a good start even though thousands of money had been squaddered. The anti-corruption commission will audit everyone starting from the office of the president and his deputies down to the last man in line of suspected abuse. This is the start of a working system in Southern Sudan. I am skeptical because they might blow it as it was in 2006. The GOSS will have to say what they mean to say, but not to use soft-step in order to buy time from public outrage. This is a serious case and the President will have to take it very deligent and careful. This is a bracket, and people will have to see if what is mean and passed is true.
Hillary B.M.L,M
South Sudan lawmakers pass anti-corruption act
In my view, the only Institution in South Sudan which is trying hard is Parliament, with its well organized and specialized Committees under the control of Mr.James Wani Igga. Other Executive Bodies(Ministries) are they doing nothing other than looting public Money and Employing their close relatives.
This Bill, even though passed by the Parliament and will be endorse by Mr President to become Law, i doubt its implementation by the Ministers,Directors,Commissioner etc who like Corruption to continue for their benefit and close Relatives, Tribes which are monopolizing if not in One Ministry you can find ONE TRIBE.
postmortem
South Sudan lawmakers pass anti-corruption act
The Anti Corruption Act is long over due. I totally disagree with the Speaker when he said interms of priorities, it ranks second to the interim constitution. Had it been like that, they would have long enacted and passed this law as soon as the constitution was promulgated.It is the first of its kind that I heard of priorities in Southern Sudan. Where is this reflected in the business of the August House and the Executive in the last three years of CPA down the road?
This is shameful to praise this law at this time when resources of southern sudan have been robbed and raped left right centre in the last three years. Would we be hearing of war veterants or disabled mutinying in Yei and Nimule if we had priorities for this black South?
They have just passed a law that is going to catch chicken thieves. I do not know what the executive of the Ombudsman will sing. Since its establishment they have been fooling southerners in their dramas at Nyakuron Culture Centre in defence of their weaknessess “How do you expect a child of two years to begin running at a high speed? how do you expect us to deliver without the law? Iam compelled to ask this question, what have you then been doing for the last two years without the law? Aren’t you encouraging corruption by been employed to do nothing at the office and using taxpayers money as salaries? Why should government pay people for doing nothing when we do not have shools, no clean water poor roads and lack of medical amenities?
We are tired of this incompetent office. To me the passing of this law is bad news to chicken thieves, pickpocketers,drunkards and teachers who are always demonstarting for their own dues.
For the untouchables,this is nothing. There is no business an egg wrestling a stone. I have not seen any human resource within the Ombudsman’s office capable of even investigating and bringing to book those quarterly educated tax collectors at Nimule border. You can see that they are just brought to the border to perpetuate corruption. When you see them write on the travel pass, you wonder where they studied from. They are merely scribbling something that only the Immigration officers in Bibia just guest what was written.
Senior six dropouts investigating Phd holders in corruption? What a bright day light joke. No jubilation until we see some MPs and ministers out of offices. Ha, but can you remove a person whom you did not elect? How do you investigate a person who employed you?
God come and help Southern Sudan only at this wee hour. To you I pray.
patrick william
South Sudan lawmakers pass anti-corruption act
Who will implement this Act if Executive and Legislative are all corrupted??
Simply:- corrupted Justice can not judge corrupted Criminal.
Wad Juba
South Sudan lawmakers pass anti-corruption act
Will the the passing of this “anti-corruption act” (if it passes into law) mean that all the theives (folks who stole and looted public money) and their unrespective families, are going to be brought to book? Because if not, then this is just another “Sing-Song”….PEROID.
I just hope that, one day, the “likes” of Mr. 3 Million (the dude who was caught in London) and the “so-many” number of GoSS and SPLA/M corrupt civil servants who bought houses and businesses for their families overseas are brought to stand justice and their assets confisicated if they can not legally account for their “sudden wealth”.
Have mind-full day!
Chao!
Wad Juba a.k.a “The Artful Doger”