W. Equatoria vows no long speeches for those celebrating independence
July 3, 2013 (JUBA) – Western Equatoria state says that it will improve the experience of citizens celebrating South Sudan’s second independence anniversary on 9 July 2011, by cleaning public areas and encouraging politicians not to give long speeches while people stand in the sun.
Such customs have begun to put off some South Sudanese from attending national events but Western Equatoria state says it has listened to last year complaints and is attempting to ensure a unique and colourful gathering.
A committee to prepare the state for the independence celebrations was formed in June under the leadership of the minister of youth and sports, Gibson Bullen Wande, who has formed several sub-committees tasked with cleaning the areas where the celebrations will take place.
Minister Wande said he has put in place mechanisms to address issues which discourages citizens from turning up in large for such occasions, such government officials arriving late and giving long speeches while citizens stand in the hot sun without water.
Modir Ngarawu, a member of Western Equatoria’s parliament, said that it is important for South Sudanese to celebrate independence day even if there is no money for extravagance as many people fought in decades of conflict with a succession of governments in Khartoum.
The second Sudanese civil war ended in 2005 with a peace deal that granted Southern Sudanese a referendum in 2011 to decide whether to remain as part of Sudan or to seceded. Voters overwhelmingly chose independence, which was officially declared on 9 July 2011.
An oil dispute with Sudan over transit fees has handicapped the nascent state since January 2012, as 98% of national income came from oil before the shutdown. A new deal was reached in March but Khartoum recently threatened to block exports of Southern crude due to ongoing security issues.
Ngarawu said that despite the insecurity in other parts of South Sudan still there was relative peace in Western Equatoria state since Ugandan rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) was forced from the area over a year ago.
“The high committee organised a general cleaning in Yambio town and Gbudue stadium currently designated as the venue for the celebration and Yambio town”, he said.
He added that his committee would hold a meeting with the director generals of all the ministries in Western Equatoria state to discuss what civil servants will say in public speeches given on the day.
The officials as well as organised forces, women groups, youth groups have all been encouraged to use short and simple slogans and not speak for too long.
The chairperson of the organising committee said they had received 15,000 South Sudanese pounds from the national government to enable all ten counties to participate in the celebration.
(ST)