South Sudan parliament denies split over new cabinet
August 6, 2013 (JUBA) – The chairperson of the eleven member Parliamentary Committee formed to vet names of the new ministers has denied reports that a split is responsible for the committee’s failure to present a report endorsing or rejecting some appointments in the new cabinet.
‘‘We have two who did not sign because they had important issues to attend. One of the members had to go to the airport to receive a body of one of his relatives who passed away while another said she was attending an urgent family business,’’Abuk Ayite explained.
Ayite vehemently denied reports that the committee was divided, describing the reports as “unfounded rumour” created by individuals holding grudges against those appointed to cabinet. Without saying when, she said the committee’s report will be made to parliament.
“The findings of the committee during the vetting process will be in form of recommendation which will be presented to the parliament for deliberations and further scrutiny”, she said.
But a member of the committee told Sudan Tribune that they did not reach a consensus as some of the cabinet members were rejected for not having the required academic qualifications while others were found to have a criminal record.
“It is true the committee did not reach a consensus to write a comprehensive report today [Tuesday] because some of the cabinet members did not have the correct qualifications to be ministers. Others were found to have cheated the leadership when they were deployed during the liberation that they were graduates. One of the candidates, for instance, was deployed to Western Upper Nile, as a lawyer after he claimed to the leadership that he was holding a law degree, which he was not,’’ said the committee member.
Although he later went to Uganda and studied a law degree, the committee member added that the rejected cabinet appointee was also found to have fraudulently awarded $500 million dollars without following due process.
‘’The same person was found to have approved 500 million dollars to a business person in the name of the government without relevant institutions. There is documentary evidence showing that he was personally involved and these were produced to the committee but he claimed he was asked by the president”, said the member of the vetting committee who spoke anonymously to the Sudan Tribune.
The anonymous source alleged that the Chairperson of the vetting committee was motivated by “ethnicity’’ and party affiliation which he said is dragging the country backwards.
The source said the MPs wanted to get ‘‘rid off the corrupt’’ and appoint only the capable and honest to cabinet.
Most of the 21 cabinet ministers who are facing resistance to their appointment are those backing Kiir to stand again for another term come general elections in 2015.
Deng Bol, a native of Warrap and a student at Kampala International University (KIU) in neighbouring Uganda, currently visiting Juba, said that unless Kiir finds a way of rewarding his supporters, he risks losing his power base saying some of them may defect to his political rival and former deputy, Riek Machar.
“Things are never certain in politics until when you achieve the goal. If president Kiir is not serious enough to find a remedy to contain dissenting voices from some of his supporters and also form an alliance with other political parties, especially Dr. Lam Akol, he might risk losing his power base to some of his critics and political rivals within SPLM”, Deng Bol said.
A presidential aide claimed that any vote by the MPs against some of cabinet appointees would not affect the business of government as undersecretaries and directors general would continue the day to day operations of their ministries.
The aide however said senior members of the house had stepped up efforts to lobby for the approval of competent persons to critical ministries such as defence, finance and interior.
Surur Abdullah, a native of Mundri, Western Equatoria, said it would be a “step forward towards institutionalization of democracy”, if the house conducts the vetting process in a honest manner. She however expressed fears that some of the people appointed to cabinet will win endorsement by bribing members of parliament.
(ST)