Amidst the ongoing water crisis in Juba City, a Member of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), has put forth a proposal aimed at addressing water crisis and create jobs for South Sudanese.
The water crisis in Juba has reached alarming levels,
prompting authorities to engage in discussions with water tanker drivers including the embassy where the foreign drivers come from.
In a statement on Sunday, Hon. John Agany Deng, emphasized
the need for a collaborative approach involving the national and state
governments, along with the Juba City Council.
Agany proposed that the responsibility of driving the water
tankers be assigned to South Sudanese citizens, allowing them to take control
of water supplies and create jobs to address the current situation.
“The drivers must be South Sudanese without prejudices to
the ownership status. In other words, the trucks may be owned by foreigners but
driven by South Sudanese citizens. This can also create jobs for our people [in
addition to taking control over our water supply],” Agany stated.
Agany voiced support for the government's initial plan to
buy water tankers as an immediate and short-term solution while the government
works on permanent solutions to the water crisis.
“I was told that the water tankers owned by foreigners are
only two hundred. Now, if the governments buy the same number of water tankers
and distribute them accordingly, it can force foreigners to invest in water
supply according to the laws and regulations of the Republic of South Sudan” he
said.
The government’s economic cluster proposed buying 100 water
tankers at a cost of $9 million but this plan received criticism from some
parliamentarians and the members of the public.
“This [buying of water tankers] can nullify the cheating
imposed on our people and create balance between the citizens and foreigners
interested in the investment of the water supply,” Agany argued.
The supply of clean drinking water is largely controlled by
foreigners, mostly from Eritrea and Ethiopia and they have recently increased water
prices from 2,500 SSP to 9,000 SSP per barrel depending on the area, leading to
outrage among residents of Juba.
Thiik Thiik Mayardit, the deputy mayor of Juba City Council,
has raised concerns with the Eritrean ambassador to South Sudan, seeking assistance in addressing the water crisis by persuading Eritrean drivers to
lower water prices for the thirsty population of Juba.
As of this week, the deputy governor of Central Equatoria
State, Paulino Lokudu Obede, issued a decision to set the water price at 4,000
SSP, a commitment also acknowledged by the water tanker drivers in a letter.
The deputy governor's decision overturned the city council'sdirective, which had ordered water prices to be 2,500 SSP in the city and 3,500
SSP in the suburbs.
