Warrap parliament extends governor’s mandate, despite street protests

June 18, 2015 (JUBA) – Members of parliament in Warrap state on Thursday approved a motion, which was last week tabled before the assembly requesting the amendment of the state constitution so as to extend the mandate of governor, Nyandeng Malek.

The request, however, sparked sustained two days of street protests, attracting heavy deployment of joint security and police forces, allegedly to provide law and order.

The speaker of the state legislative assembly, Moses Madot Dut Deng told Sudan Tribune after the vote that majority of the parliamentarians approved the extension of the term of governor Malek to remain in office for additional three years.

The decision, according to speaker, was in accordance with the national government decision to extend the terms of the elected positions to remain in office up to 2018.

Deng, however, admitted the process was “not easy” but necessary to avoid administrative and political vacuum and keeping a crucial lifeline as “a political act of common sense and democracy”.

I hope there would be no another attempt for request to extend the constitution without getting direct mandate from the people and pledging to get to work with the executive on provision of services, further stressed the speaker.

Governor Malek, on part, welcomed approval of the request and promised that now her administration would “work hard” in order to provide basic services and unite people.

The local government minister urged members of parliament last week to support giving the governor additional breathing space, commended the approval of the amendment of the state constitution to allow the governor state in office for three more years in power.

“When I presented the request to parliament last week, I knew it would be passed because we are in a critical moment of our time where we do not need any political and administrative vacuum”. I asked parliament, each lawmaker, not to reject the request, which wasn’t easy because there were difference views but urged them to be mindful of the need to stay without leadership so that it does not do a great harm to our people and our future,” said Tito.

The extension, he was, was an act of solidarity towards working for peace and reconciliation in the state and the country at large, adding “leaders have now recognised that Warrap has turned Thenew page on political differences and stand together.

“This is the time for us as leaders of this state to come together as the country needs holistic approach to reaching peaceful coexistence, which government at level is pursuing seriously. Our commitments to working together should override powerful interests”, explained the local government minister.

The acting head of the parliamentary committee responsible for information and communications, Ariech Mayar Ariech said the approval was unconstitutional because it was not done in accordance with parliamentary rules, procedures and processes.

He said a request to amend the constitution requires a period not exceeding month to allow members of parliament properly study the request tabled before the assembly.

The legislator said the decision making mechanisms were not followed in accordance with the state transitional constitution. He said the constitution provides for consensus and secret voting in the case of contentious matters arising from a parliamentary debate on matters related the public interest.

“But like we have seen in the past, the constitutional processes and procedures were not followed. The request was not allowed to stay for up to one month period. Also members were not given enough time to hold consultation and enlighten the public. This was an act of bad intention which I said before”, Ariec told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

“Members were forced to stand up and be counted. This is an old method of voting. It is a traditional way of voting used commonly in the process were majority are illiterate and cannot read and write. But in parliament, majority of the members are literate, so we decided to ask for secret voting but the speaker refused and made use of the presence of the security forces to intimidate and forced members to stand up and asked security to start the counting”, he explained. The legislator said 33 members were forced to stand up to be counted and 13 members refused to get up and be counted,” said Ariec.

“The way it was done was too traditional. The speaker bulldozed the procedures”, he added.

STUDENTS WELCOME EXTENSION

Meanwhile, Warrap students and youths in Uganda havewelcomed another term for governor Malek’s continued stay in office, following parliament’s decision on Thursday.

Peter Agolong Mading, the deputy chairman for Warrap youth said they warmly welcome the state legislative assembly’s move to keep Malek in power till July 2018.

“We students of warrap state in Uganda congratulate governor Nyandeng
Malek Delic for her re-extension term of governorship,” Mading told Sudan Tribune.

Mading said youths from Warrap state who study abroad and in East Africa salute the decision for giving Malek another chance to continue with her good governing skills.

“We students in Diaspora do hereby ask our youth and politicians back home to support her with development plan of our state to promote peace in communities,” he said.

Ring Deng Ajith, the secretary general for Jieng Union in East Africa and adviser for Warrap youth said their entire communities welcome the governor’s term extension.

(ST)