Suspension of ministers on corruption charges not politcally
motivated, presidential source
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June 28, 2013 (JUBA) - A source in the office of South Sudan
president, Salva Kiir has denied allegations that the recent
suspension of two senior ministers over a corruption-related case, was
politically motivated.
JPEG - 51.5 kb
South Sudanese finance minister Kosti Manibe Ngai (ST)
"President Kiir was simply looking for facts behind why $7 million was
transferred to purchase of anti-fire safes on behalf of the government
without the knowledge of relevant institutions", the source told Sudan
Tribune.
Last week, Kiir relieved finance minister Kosti Manibe and his cabinet
affairs counterpart, Deng Alor, lifting their immunities so they can
be investigated over the request and transfer of $7 million to a
private company without knowledge or authorisation of the president or
cabinet.
On Monday, however, Manibe responded to his suspension telling the
UN-sponsored Miraya FM that the case against him was “political”.
But presidential source told Sudan Tribune that there was a lot of
"misinformation and claims" about the president’s decision to suspend
the duo.
"He [Kiir] was not targeting of any [of] these ministers", the source said.
"They [ministers] were actually the closest cabinet members to him.
You can tell this by the period of service in the government. They
have never been left out in any cabinet changes. This shows the level
of trust the president had in them", he stressed.
The only reason for their suspension was to establish the truth behind
request and the approval of the money”, the source, who works in the
president’s protocol department, told Sudan Tribune.
On his recent trip to Botswana, Kiir stated that he was only
interested in getting a clear reason and explanation on why the money
was requested and transferred without going through the relevant
channels.
The process of suspending the two ministers, the official further
revealed, started in February, but the president opted not to take
action because he wanted the issue to be settled through
administrative channels.
"But the people involved failed to show an understanding and instead
went as far as insulting him in private meetings, thinking that he
(the president) would not get the information", he said, and blamed
the two ministers for having shot themselves in their feet.
"The are actually the ones who made the matter worst and they should
now reap what they sow”, added the source.
BRIBES FOR CONTRACTS
Angelina Chol, a local businesswoman in the country’s capital Juba,
told Sudan Tribune that she believes her unwillingness to offer brides
has hampered her attempts to win government contracts, despite being
able to meet requirements.
She said she had applied to supply fuel, stationeries, furniture and
catering services to government bodies, but allegedly refused to to
bribe officials involved in the procurement processes at various
institutions.
Chol, who owns a hotel and five restaurants in Juba, employs 46 South
Sudanese nationals and four foreign workers who assist her in writing
proposals and applying for government projects.
“We look for those who can do what they know. We ask you what you can
do best and assign you. If you say for example that you know how to
prepare local food or a sauce to the extent that it attracts customers
to our restaurants, then we hire you immediately. So we look at what
one can do best. And the majority of the people we have hired are
South Sudanese from different communities because our clients do not
come from one ethnic group”, Chol told Sudan Tribune on Thursday at
Juba town.
One of the main problems facing her businesses is getting hard
currencies to enable her buy food items from neigbouring countries
like Kenya and Uganda, she said.
“There are things that we buy locally and there are things we bring in
from Kenya and Uganda. Things like construction materials, beer and
other beverages require hard currencies which are difficult to get
because of bureaucracy in banking system”.
Chol says she runs other business projects, which deal with supplying
furniture to government and private institutions, after winning bids
to supply fuel, stationery and catering services for workshops and
conferences by international relief organisations, government agencies
or individual groups.
She claimed most of the government contracts meant to be given to the
local companies are presently awarded to the foreign companies
allegedly because of bribery.
The practice of bribing people to get government contract is rapidly
growing deep roots in the South Sudanese economy.
Her exasperation is shared by many South Sudanese who believe
corruption in the new nation has worsened, since austerity measures
were introduced last year. This follows last year’s oil dispute with
Sudan that deprived the young developing nation of 98% of its income.
(ST)
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