Lakes State minister donates water pump to rural women

May 28, 2012 (RUMBEK) – The Lakes State Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Adak Costa Mapuor, donated a hand water pump on Saturday to the rural community of Matangai payam [district].

Costa told the over four hundred women at the gathering that “the aim to donate you this water hand pump is to ease your access to water points – the second option is that this water hand pump will be used for your small vegetable farming irrigation during the dry season”.

Adak was appointed as Lakes State’s Minister for Physical Infrastructure on 1 May 2012.

She is the first female minister to obtain this position since the establishment of the Lakes State government in 2005 as part of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Khartoum government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

In 2011 South Sudan became independent with the SPLM as the ruling party.

Thousands of women celebrated Adak’s appointment at various ceremonies. The first big gathering was held at Panda-Hotel and at the Lakes State Police Club as well the celebration at Matangai.

Yom Anyijong welcomed the appointment saying that “this is the first big ministry given to women” in Lakes State.

“We will try to help our sister by giving her wise advice to participate with male ministers”.

Adak urged Lakes State’s women to embrace entrepreneurship and agricultural production.

(ST)