South Sudan: Why are people not told what to do?
By Pal Chol, Juba, South Sudan
December 14, 2015 (SSB) — I am taken aback by the way things are being run in this country. You find that somebody somewhere does something which is not within his/her sphere or area of responsibility. The Press Secretary in the office of the President or the Governor everywhere does hold not press conferences and neither does he speak for things outside the presidential or gubernatorial dossier.
The only person who is authorised by law is the Minister of Information who is the official spokesman of any government. The Minister in the Presidency helps schedule the meetings of the President with the government dignitaries and the visiting Heads of States or their envoys .He can give a press statement. He accompanies the President on foreign trips with the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister of Information & Broadcasting speaks for the cabinet chaired by the President and also airs out policy statements of the government ministries presented by the respective ministers and resolutions passed in the council of Ministers’ meetings. The Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Relation hosts and meets indefatigably diplomatic corps accredited to the country and promotes the foreign policy and image of the country.
He has the right to speak to the press and so does the Spokesperson in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Press Secretary’s roles and functions include, among others, writes for the President, defends the President against negative defamation by the media and refutes allegations against the presidency in the newspapers and nothing else. He is not allowed to speak to the media only when the personality of the president is attacked.
What is happening is the usurping of the powers of the minister of information. We, the unknowing are now being misled and not sure of who really speaks for the government but I personally know that it is the Minister of Information who does, given his position. There were occasions, without any semblance of any shame, where the Presidential Press Secretary used to sit alongside the Army spokesperson to give a press conference on military matters which is unrealistic and unprocedural.
The only person who reserves the right to sit with the Army spokesperson is the Minister of Information but not always, only when there is a necessity specially when there is an external aggression or threat. There is no room here for the press Secretary. I was surprised when the press Secretary in the office of the President was interviewed by Miraya, using his an idiomatic English, sarcastically said only God knows when will the IO come to Juba.
Was he clarifying or what, while the Minister of Information already made it clear that the IO will never set foot in Juba unless they reduce their number to 30? What was the point in this hullabaloo again? Many people here are fond of doing things which are not their areas of job descriptions as I said before. Why would I do the work of a civil Engineer when I am a teacher by training or assigned to write for somebody and then go and preach in the church?
This is absurd! For this country to move forward, we should not step on others ‘toes or assume to be what we are not. Let us buck our ideas up. As a young and a fledgling country, we better get orientations on protocols and bureaucratic management in the neighbouring countries. The Press Secretaries rarely speak, but not quite often, within the premises of the presidential boundaries.
An informed source within the presidency told me that this man is heavily guarded with two thatchers pick-up mounted with heavy weapons and light machine guns just like a Deputy Minister, Minister or an army General. What is reportedly missing is the siren to give way. Let us preserve peace and this will happen if and only if each and every one sticks to his/her assignment.
Our Presidential Press Secretary sometimes heads delegations to foreign countries and this is quite unacceptable and never been heard of. During my University days in Khartoum, I had not had the chance to know the Press Secretary of the President of Sudan.
Who is the cleverest man or woman here to tell me the name of the Press Secretary of the President of Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya or any other President in the neigbouring countries or who has ever been delegated as an Envoy to any foreign country including ours?
I have no doubt that only a few can give an answer but if you ask a street person in these countries in the general knowledge exams about who the press secretary of our President is? They would definitely tell you. Why does everybody want to glitter or put on others’ shoes?
This situation puts the President in limbo and an awkward position. It is a shame because nobody in South Sudan minds his/her own business and this is engendered by conflict of interests. God save South Sudan!!
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