Kiir decries corruption in South Sudan
By Ngor Arol Garang
February 28, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The incumbent president of the regional government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, issued a strong statement on Sunday condemning corruption and describing it as a friend of nobody.
“Although it is hard fighting them, we must not give an inch to either AIDS or corruption so they ruin our nation from recovering and developing faster,” he said adding his cabinet has on Friday the 26th, agreed to add additional measures on how to fight corruption through an established anti-graft commission headed by Dr. Pauline Riak.
The move was welcomed by several commentators in some predominantly southern forums and universities in Khartoum, but they asked Kiir to take concrete actions to show his commitment to root out the vice.
A cross-section of political leaders and other analysts said the President’s stance would be strengthened and win support of pessimists if he links his words with swift action against anyone implicated in corruption.
Earlier President Kiir said today that the ongoing anti-corruption drive would remain high on the government’s agenda if he is re-elected in the forthcoming general election in April. “I have no intention to reverse zero tolerance policy against corruption, this is my position and will remain position of the government of South Sudan till corruption is weeded out of the region,” he said.
The president who is standing for the same chair used a press interview to particularly emphasize his administration’s resolve to adopt laws to combat corruption and other practices that cost huge amounts in public funds at the expense of improving social services delivery.
The president’s tone was that of not tolerating any form of corruption in any sector and those linked to the vice, including the media, which he challenged not to use their power of the pen to defend their culpability.
However, various interviewees explained that fighting corruption was not as simple as some people may think and that it was high time Mr. Kiir exercised his power by taking strong action against the suspects.
Garang Garang Kuan, a student at Juba University in Khartoum said it does not make sense for the President to condemn corrupt politicians and civil servants in the normal way that members of the public would do.
“I differ with President Kiir because he holds power in his hands, but continues to condemn like any of us. Who will help South Sudan get out of this mess?” he wondered.
According to him, he said South Sudanese do not trust most of the words about corruption often made by the president and this makes it difficult for the public to continue trusting him.
They do not trust his words because culprits have been persecuted publicly, he said.
Many committees have been formed to investigate issues connected to corruption and administrative malpractices. Results of these committees had previously recommended that individuals founded guilty be disciplined, but most of them are still enjoying their immunities today in public office, he said stressing President Kiir’s words against corruption must reflect his action.
“You cannot convince people that you hate corruption while you fear to take action against corrupt government officials. I think the President must think twice on that,” he commented.
Deng Bol, another student studying at Sudan University commented that it was high time for President Kiir to take action against corrupt officials.
“I believe that action speaks louder than words. We want to see him take action and not speaking like I am told he did today,” said Mr. Bol
He further said South Sudanese want a clear analysis on what anti-corruption established in 2006 has been doing and how the President is taking action to eliminate graft.
He pointed out that people need to know how much money anti-corruption has managed to recover from corrupt officials and how many people have been prosecuted in court for involving themselves in corruption scandals. South Sudanese want to evaluate what the President has said by connecting them with action and data.
We hear there are some politicians who have decided to start campaigning against corruption as part of their programs while some of them are even bribing people with money and other items, but still no one has been arrested, he said. How realistic is president’s statement, he posed.
Commenting on the matter, a political analyst and lecturer at the University of Juba university college of law, Mr. Deng Awuor said President Kiir is surrounded by dirty politicians and that his statements will never be trusted by the people.
Deng, who serves as dean of the same law college said “President Kiir needs to clear up his government by arraigning in court some officials connected with financial scandals.”
He explained that Mr. Kiir needs to strengthen leadership ethics in his government and avoid being surrounded by corrupt politicians if he really wanted to win back South Sudan confidence and trust.
“Public institutions must be clean, senior government officials must be clean to be a good example in the society. In teaching profession, he said, you cannot talk bad about anything such as alcohol for example, to the students while drinking it before them. ”
“You talk about it and make sure you give good example for the rest to follow you,” he said.
The same to the government of South Sudan, its officials including president Kiir should not persistently talk against corruption while doing little to show that they are committed to fighting it. Let there be punishment to those found to committed crimes, he said.
Similarly, Tong Lual Ayat, chairman of the United Democratic Party (UDP) said he would like to see the president’s words in action, adding that there are laws and regulations for dealing with corruption in the region.
The Juba-based parliament was established to make laws for the purpose of dealing with such matter and there are laws and procedures for addressing this problem, said Mr. Tong.
(ST)
thieleling
Kiir says corruption is an enemy of no friend
Dear Readers,
Kiir practiced zero tolerance policy against corruptions for the last five years. What was the result? More than $ 8 billions of public money stolen by Kiir & his ruling cliques of the last five years. people couldn’t believe anything that comes out of kiir’s mouth. Kiir cannot manage south sudan political leadership. The last five years of Kiir’s political failure were credible evidence that Kiir was a failure. Unless Salvatore Miyerdit think every south sudanese is as foolish as Kiir. What a hypocritical Kiir’s foolish leadership. Kiir, your leadership is “dead”. But thanks God south sudan is alive. People are ready to deny your reckless leadership for the next critical one year. KIIR IS NO MORE!!
Lual Chol Kuir
Kiir says corruption is an enemy of no friend
thank Mr president for your condemnation of corrupion but before you criticize other you better practise what you prache, please should you stay away from your tribesmates who are corruptors, we will appreciate your leadership like SPLM general secretary and Governer of Jonglei Kuol Manyang.
kill corruption from your state before you tell people of southern Sudan bullshit, this are not times of protending, we need action then words.
Dengtaath
Kiir says corruption is an enemy of no friend
You are fully correct Mr.president, corruption and HIVE/AIDS are elements to hinder South Sudan development, these are two big contemporary issues in the new nation at the mean time. But who is going to fight them? You are the one to fight corruption and fund the AIDS compaign Mr.president.
You have Identified it and said it loud to the public, we welcome your wise understanding to both issues but we are awaiting for the action from you and your government right from now.
Don’t forget unless you believe that you are South Sdan president who is ignoring ill advises from other close aids of yours.
Thanks
dengtaath
Time1
Kiir says corruption is an enemy of no friend
What is needed is to strengthen the anti-corruption commission, by setting strick rules and regulations for activity of the comission, for example, strict rules should be put that restrict the same tribe or same family members working within the commission, meaning it has to be very diverse in its composition, also the commission members should not be related to any top members of the government like president vice president or a cabinet minister, this will make it to work more independent and more relaible, also members should be screen for past crinal and corruption records before being appointed to the comission, the commission should be empowere to work more independently with the judiciary and police service. meaning the commission should be able to investigate and pass concrete evidence of corruption to the police and justice depertment, the commission should not work based on hearsay but will have to investigate every allegations to verify.
Kirr should continue with the zero tolerance on corruption slogan but he should make sure the commission is made strong and more independent to carry out its work during his next term, so far the corruption has help reduce corruption cases since formed because many individuals have been hit with fear of being accused and charged so far reducing cases of corruption, it should be encouraged and supported more.
Achiek Alier Jr
Kiir says corruption is an enemy of no friend
Dear readers,
I agree with most of the commentators, the war of words adopted by the president will not yield any fruit in curbing corruption in anyway. Carrot and stick policy must be the rules of the day to cow those morons who embezzle the public funds at the expenses of two millions lives lost during the liberation struggles.
The names of those culprits involved should be made public because they are holding public offices. We were all equaled combatants during the war, we too must be equal in sharing the toil we fought for.
Long live the people struggle, long live the SPLM.
Dinka Boy
Kiir says corruption is an enemy of no friend
Goss should not to be blame 80% because they are at the introductory stages,but i hope they need to start working on it now before 2011.
Corruption is not that easy to eradicate,but it needs proper leadership committment against it by implement the strong laws that people must obey. Certainly, it will take years and years for the Goss to removed corruption because there are great number of people who are now working in the wrong positions.
If leaders employed people according to their right departments. For example, Marketing department should works with any thing concerning sales, NPD, R&D. Finace should works with financing, investments. Accountants works with accounts transactions, expenses, debts, balancing, income statements, Cash flows. and many like HR, PR,and managements all should works in any bussiness administration posts to reduce the lose of money etc.
While the governmnet enforced laws that should stop nepotism, corruption, land ownership rights, individuals right to employment, militray services rights,and job elibility for any citizens and many more.
Judges must be hand over the responsibilities to judge the wrong doers and they must take action without alternations.
James John
Kiir says corruption is an enemy of no friend
where were Kiir in last five years???
Oduck Bol
Kiir decries corruption in South Sudan
NO luck for Kiir this time. His lucky time is over. power is in the hands of civilians.If citizens decide to give their vote to him at this election, then they must shut up their mouths when Kiir loot their funds, let them to be killed by their enemies ,take their land and give it to his naphews/friends, and creat more haterate a mong people of south.
Mr.Atok
Kiir decries corruption in South Sudan
Dear Reader,
It is not about attacking the persnality of Kiir or defending him based on ethnicity but the facts that Kiir is a President allows you that thus, he deserves all odds, thanks and negative description by the virtue of the position he holds and if there is anyone outside there who sees someone cricising Kiir as an enemy, it is unfortunate of you.
Abusing leaders is the soap that washes them clean in performing in their leadership hence, when Kiir says zero tolerant to corruption, it is not enough and it doesn’t signify Kiir as a leader that has a political will to fight the graft because those doing the so called corruption are known by names by Kiir himself and he failed to bring them answerable to their deeds in order to remove doubts and also to give public confident in Kiir in the fight against the vice.
Thirdly, President Kiir is being seen as the Bishop who ordained the corrupt officials because he doesn’t face them courageously and when ask by journalists he tends to shy away from facts of giving Caesar what belongs to him and public what is theirs. Therefore, as a matter of correcting bad deeds done by our leaders without bad faith, our President baptised corruption yet chanting zero corruption without initiatives.
Otherwise cease from attacking leaders at their personalities because they also deserve that respect like any of us and any of us will also face the same later when your turn comes.
The only where we can exercise our supremacy is in these elections and it is by denying them our votes if you think they didn’t perfom.
Atok Dan.
yiendakduop
Kiir decries corruption in South Sudan
The incumbent president kiir issued a strong statement about corruption in
South sudan.this’s not time to talk for corruption.were you are before.and you have five year in your power still corrption’s going on. mr. kiir corruption from your state before you tell people of southern Sudan bullshit, this are not times of protending, we need action then words.mr.kiir you must be clean, your government officials must be clean to be a good example in southern suadn peaple. such as some officials whose are plays with money while some of them are even bribing people with money and other items, but still no one has been arrested, How’s realistic is president’s statement, me i want you to be elected as a president of south sudan (GOSS) in the forthcoming general election in april. bout be corefull to your peaple becouse they loveing you,to become next president.and takecore for your policy against corruption, this is your position and i will remain you again thank God Bless kiir and South peaple and God Bless me”””””””””””””””””” any quection?mail me [email protected]