Long Awaited Government Reshuffle In South Sudan: What Is Popular Expectation?
By Beny Gideon Mabor
The Republic of South Sudan before its full declaration as an independent republic on 9 July 2011 was already a semi-autonomous region within the former united Sudan with full government at all levels. The executive-led government or rather ministers as best you could describe it and other constitutional post holders have been changed so far for three subsequent periods. The first government was formed on 22 October 2005. The second government came into force on 31st May 2009 and the third which is the current government in place was formed on 26 August 2011, exactly a month later after independence.
Currently, we have all heard about the imminent government reshuffle which the President would be preparing by now. We also heard a lot of rumors as to who may be reshuffle out from the current government and interestingly enough also about who may not be reshuffle. In other word, some of the current ministers, deputy ministers and other constitutional post holders may survive the so called tsunami ever expected in the country’ s political life as some amateurs of rumors in the city like to nickname the reshuffle.
However, since the formation of the then interim government in 2005 to the current transitional government of the Republic of South Sudan in 2013, some ministers and other constitutional post holders have not been out of government but only changing their appointment from one institution to another. The legitimate question remain unanswered whether such constitutional post holders or politicians were productive in their respective assignments to be given new institutions anticipated for more production or whether they have failed is not considered by the appointing authority. In contrast, the same politicians are recycled in the government and have scored very little so far with respect to effective discharge of duty and service delivery. The appointing authority this time in question seems to have correctly read between the line and its decision in the forthcoming government will make a difference
The permanence of some ministers and other constitutional post holders since then up top now may provoke the public to question the political leadership whether such politicians are awarded with positions in the government due to their revolutionary legitimacy or what? Again the public is worry and want to know when shall we end question of liberation struggle and scapegoat of being an infant state to a question of competence, transparency and accountability regardless of such period? The public is further curious about how affairs of this country are going on but there is potential progress with the president General Salva Kiir Mayardit. He promised a lean and effective government of technocrat although relatively overdue but lastly rumored to be at the corner.
The most important public expectation of this forthcoming government is by appointing competent personnel to implement the task of nation building with available scare resources. South Sudan has many challenging tasks to include but not limited to delivery of fundamental services to the people, protection of lives and properties, development and protection of territorial integrity and the list is long.
As talk of the day goes on, what actually bother the public is the fate about those ministers and other constitutional post holders who are expecting or want to be once again reassigned at top executive and other institutional capacity. Some of them have already been given three different portfolios in the last eight years of our government and they want to appear again now. But frankly speaking to do what? These senior government officials were appointed to create and implement program of nation building enshrined under the Constitution and the policy framework of each institution but not a reward of any kind. Therefore, it is right time now for the ministers and other constitutional post holders to evaluate themselves and ask whether each and every one has left any legacy behind an institution where a minister or constitutional post holder was appointed in the three subsequent governments.
And if there is no legacy or program achieved or left to be achieved, then why do such politicians expect to be in the fourth government awaited in the pipeline? I would have love for our patriotic and nationalist politicians to be brave to say let me look for another thing to do, and let the President give the chance to somebody else who may do it better and allow our citizens to entertain the dream of South Sudan which could be the best place to live in, our heaven on earth. Where we can have potable water all over the country, good roads, health services, schools and name them. For those who have tried their best and have shown some tangible achievements, are still encourage to continue lobbying the appointing authority so that they contribute to serious business of nation building to allow our simple citizens to keep hoping that, their living conditions is going to improve, and finally enjoy the peace dividends.
Last but not least, the popular expectation throughout the country and indeed the politically oriented citizens is that we hope the president will form lean and effective government capable to implementing constitutional obligation and guided by dynamic of service delivery under the current austerity measures. We would like to see the government size reduced, and the focus of the government should be directed to economic and service sectors.
Beny Gideon Mabor, lives in South Sudan and can be reached at [email protected].