CAN OUR LEADERS STOP MOCKING CITIZENS?
4 min readBy Paul Duwar Bak Yak, Kampala, Uganda
July 31, 2015 (SSB) — I’m now convinced that the country called south Sudan is officially divided into two social and ideological entities –one comprising the have (s) and the other by the have-Not.
Yes, looking at the politico-economic situation the country has experienced over one year and nine months of politico-crisis, it beats my understanding that a section of our society does not appreciate at all that we are in deep economic crisis that our country is going through since the crisis broke out on December 15, 2013 in south Sudan.
While some people are crying over the biting fuel, lack of hard currencies and high commodity prices that are not regulated, others are simply swimming in obscene wealth, unaware of the situation around them.
A friend of mine recently told me how he demanded that his tuition be exchange to hard currencies by central bank. A few of his colleagues got to learn of the request and lambasted him asking whether it was the institution that had sent him to school!. Can you image even staff are being divided on whether their institution should or should not provide students with hard currencies!
It is surprising, that while south Sudan parliament demonstrating in the assembly summoning the governor of the bank to come and explain the issue of hard currencies, some people simply looked on, not bothered by the on going? And continue to talked shocking words that patriotic citizen can no say, I was shocked at one businessman’s consistent statement that the current high prices are an opportunity rather than a curse?
After all, while the people of south Sudan, upper Nile and Bentiu were being murdered by Dr. Riek, others could simply testify how they had never experience any hardship in this politico and economic crisis! Two complete worlds in the same country were others experience political and economic hardship and others are not.
I can understand the simplistic logic that if prices are up, farmers or call them businessmen, will be encouraged to produce or exports more. But then, if the businessman is empowered while the consumers’ purchasing power is reduced, who will buy the produce? Besides, in order to complete the cycle of food production, the farmers need to be provided with hoes, pangas, gumboots and, ultimately fuel to run his tractor in case a farmer have a tractor or even transport his goods.
So, if the cost price of these items is so high, won’t the only logical solution be for the businessmen to sell goods at a higher price and this is how the current prices will remain high or perhaps slightly reduce, south Sudan may never be the same again in term of prices.
If we do not learn to speak the same language when with obvious disaster, conflict, we are driving our dear country into harder times. All our vehicles consume patrol or diesel, all our children pay tuition fees, it doesn’t matter whether you are rich or poor, in short run, the children of the poor may not go to school and the poor may park their vehicles while the rich driven on and their children going to school, but a time will come when the Biblical saying will come true, The first will be last.
I heard that one of the state recently drove sorghum producers, bought sorghum and started selling cheaply to the citizens with an intention of portraying that traders are increasing prices for no reason. The state was using traders’ vehicles and possibly evaded taxes and trade licence. Forks, can we stop mocking our people and find lasting solutions to our citizens’ problems?
For how long can such a state or clique of politicians sell cheap goods? Is that where the mandate of the state / politicians lies? What south Sudanese need are well-intentioned policies that apply to every citizen equally rather than mere handouts.
The author is concern South Sudanese and a student at Kampala International University; he can be reached at duwarbakyak@yahoo.co.uk for any comments.
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