South Sudan: Land Commission develops five-year strategic plan
By Julius N. Uma
February 10, 2011 (JUBA) – Southern Sudan Land Commission authorities have developed a five-year strategic plan that will govern issues concerning land allocation, leasing and acquisition in the semi-autonomous region, Robert Ladu Lwoki, its chairperson revealed on Tuesday.
With the current modern era of technology, we shall have land registry issues computerised to avoid disputes over lost or misplaced land-related documents. All these will be addressed within the five-year strategic plan,” Lwoki said.
According to the Land Commission head, plans are also underway to adopt a “people-driven” land policy which is. The policy, currently in its draft stage, will reportedly tackle customary land tenure systems, issues of land ownership and individual rights.
Also in the offing, Lwoki told journalists, is the Land Valuation Act, expected to help land owners value their land in case they plan to lease or sell it to investors and prospective buyers.
“Land remains an asset to communities in the region. Hence, there is a need to value them before selling and this can be effectively done when you have proper laws and regulations on the value of land,” he said.
The 2009 Land Act, Lwoki emphasised, also provides for the establishment of a land administration, citing county land authorities and payam (district) land councils. These two entities, directly under the Land Commission shall consist of area commissioners, civil society organisations, women groups and other stakeholders.
“These land administration bodies will be involved in the processes of land surveying, plot allocation and eventual land acquisition. Complaints arising from improper land transactions will be avoided if land issues are properly handled,” the Land Commission Chairperson remarked.
Established as an independent body in accordance with the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the commission performs numerous functions, including advising government on land-related issues, arbitrating between contending parties on claims over land, enforcing the law applicable to the locality where the land is situated, among others.
(ST)
Anyang
South Sudan: Land Commission develops five-year strategic plan
It’s so vital to get it right to avoid any future brawl among they communities in one hand and the goverment on the other, otherwise,it sound promising.
Deng Ateny Lueth
South Sudan: Land Commission develops five-year strategic plan
Mr. Julius, we would like a land laws which don’t incite kor kora. the land we all been fighting for is the land where every south sudanese will live in. people talked of land grabbing these days, was it not grabbed by arabs for the last 100 years and nobody showed up to told arab why he/ she grab Bari Juba. if we want everybody to in his own states or home, then unity state got to be compensated for it oil money we all used to construct our roads and primary schools which are now erected around south sudan, otherwise south sudan law makers will owe us explanations why UNITY STATE resources are shared. people did not liberate the country where Dinka, can not stay with Nuer, a country where Bari can not stay with Maban, and then a country where kacipo can not stay with Azandi. just look, it would be like we are creating version of Tribal apatheid in south sudan unlike South African case between black and white.look issues of kor kora in 1980s, were being sponsored by Arabs. let live together Just like one people where no one will think of dominating one another, and let not build up that fear of unknow among ourselves brothers and sisters. gone are those bad days when arabs were always beyind the divisions of our people, And now again let greed depart from my leaders and i ask this in the name of most high GOd, somebody say amen.