The Daunting Task of Organizing for Socioeconomic Development of South Sudan – Part 1

By Simon El Hag Kulusika, Lusaka, Zambia

Friday, October 16, 2020 (PW) — Throughout history the emergence of new states or monarchies had witnessed tragic events: instability, frequent changes of governing bodies, assassinations, killings or deportation of those who were in power. The British and their monarchy had not settled down until the union deal was obtained in 1770. The German formation of the Landers and later the empires went through turbulence until the brilliant actions of Otto von Bismarck. The American union had problems until President Abraham Lincoln speech at Gettysburg. 

In Africa, an example of difficult beginning was Angola, where after successes against a colonial power, the national liberation movements disagreed on power sharing resulting in bloody civil wars: pitting MPLA of Augustino Neto against UNITA of Janos Savimbi and others. Peace did not return to Angola until Savimbi was killed and agreement was reached to pave way for development in Angola. Other examples could be cited in the Middle East and Asian regions where independence had not resulted in immediate peace, unity, Solidarity and economic and political development.

The above remarks are intended to provide some bad evidence that what the people of South Sudan are witnessing now is not unique. After all they have lived turbulent moments for very long that requires adjustment and confidence building. It’s this latter, which is a challenge to the political leaders, a matter that they seem to fail to achieve.  In the absence of confidence, harmony, Solidarity between different ethnic groups, mistrust among leaders and recourse to armed confrontation as means to resolve disagreement, South Sudan will never progress in anyway to be celebrated.

The thrust of the preceding claim is that if South Sudan to see the dawn of development, it must first regain stability and peace. This is the message to all including those meeting in Italy to strike a deal for the inclusion of those who were left out of the Peace Agreement of September 2018. There should be give and take for in a difficult bargaining there is no winner or loser. The most compelling task is to end bloodshed in South Sudan. Let all meet on the elections grounds and win the leadership of South Sudan, an honorable and peaceful way.

South Sudan needs peace in order to turn its attention to real development. There are at least eleven areas of development that must be addressed in South Sudan. To move the country forward: these are crudely include: energy, transportation, petroleum &mining, agriculture, livestock & fisheries, forestry, healthcare, education at all levels, industries and related matters, ICT, human resources development including accountancy and finance institutions, civic organisations, etc.

In the following two parts or more discourses will focus on those areas of human life vital for the development of South Sudan. Its noted that without huge cross border and global investments, no one of the areas mentioned will pass through the processes of development. They require the governments at all levels to embark on economic and social planning to draw financial estimates for the development of SS. The documents, if not yet in place, will be huge requiring finances from international institutions such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, PTA Bank, etc. The preparation of the documents should be done by a special commission in collaboration with line ministries at all levels of governments.

The members of this commission should be allowed to choose one of their numbers as chair and deputy chair who should then be confirmed by the national minister for finance and planning as the case may be. The commission duly has a technical panel of economic and social experts in relevant areas of development as an advisory and supporting body. Both bodies have to receive sitting allowances, including secretariat staffs and others, who should be seconded officials from government departments.

A necessary step to development

When people are safe and assured of peace they go to toil for a better living, thus setting the wheels of development rolling. For these wheels of progress to move smoothly there are numbers of development determinants, listed in the first part, which have been recast for clarity, that must be efficient and effective for a country to achieve socio – economic transformation and development.  We now turn to highlight on those factors of development.

Population, manpower resources

South Sudan is endowed with a population estimated; crudely one may claim, at 12 m. This constitutes a reasonable number of human capitals a core factor for economic development. Sadly 80 – 90 % of the population can be fairly counted as illiterate. The majority of the people either have not been to school or dropped out after the first or the second grade of primary school. Some of them remained in their villages and later dislocated by insecurity due to wars. Various armed groups have recruited others as child soldiers.

Few of the people have gone through to primary 12, and the luckiest found their way to institute, colleges and universities. This means that the majority of the people have no aptitudes, qualities and capacities to contribute effectively to economic development. Their participation in economic development is marginal. For most of then are subsistence farmers who produce crops that are barely sufficient for the household.  Some of them are herders, rearing cattle or goats for personal use, with little or on impacts on the economy.

This calls for campaigns of eradicating illiteracy in South Sudan, and programmes of Re-education including civic education. Such undertakings can be done in several ways. The most effective is through a compulsory national service programmes. The national service programmes should be managed by South Sudan National Service as part of the new South Sudan National Defence Forces  (SSNDF). Divided into 4 phases: two weeks civic education for graduates; 3 months for Grade 12 school leavers; 6 months for those who have progressed through grade 3 – 8; and 12 months for compulsory national service for non graduates. This is to focus on skills development, such as bricklaying, carpentry, welding, mechanics, electrical work, extension practice, veterinary services, etc. in order to build skilled manpower for development.

South Sudan also has to improve its educational system. Expand primary and secondary schools, supported by trained teachers and administrators. As will be considered below basic education in SS is facing many problems ranging from poor infrastructure to low enrolment as many NGOs and international bodies have reported. Post primary and secondary education need to focus their courses on developmental activities and should introduce new courses that promote national integration and economic development. The methods of imparting knowledge must be overhauled to keep with technological advances. 

Natural resources

These resources are in abundance but lacking proper management and utilisation, arising from corruption and absence of accountability. The most affected are crude oil the main revenue-generating sector.  It’s not preforming as it should be hence low productivity and poor earning for the government. There is one export route to Red Sea facilities and no reliable Refineries.  Government must seek new routes even by roads or railways.  But paved roads non-existence and gravel ones are in bad condition.

The only railways known to SS is just about 245 km running from north of Aweil to Wau. The extraction of crude oil should be accompanied by the development of petro – chemical industrial plants. But both activities must take into account the environmental impacts of these activities and the need to compensate those people who have been affected. It’s a viable economic sector, if better managed will accelerate economic development in SS. 

Mining and Mineral resources

The most known to people is gold. But there are several gemstones in SS including emeralds. Diamond is yet to be confirmed. Activities in these precious stones need to be regulated and taxed such as miners small, medium and large companies all should be taxed. The government should see to it that value is added to these resources to support the economy.

There should be processing plants and controlled markets for these commodities to prevent smuggling and tax evasion. There is need to train locals in the arts of cutting gemstones and processing techniques, which is another way of reducing unemployment. For this sector to become an effective cog in the economic wheel reliable electricity must be made available. Electricity is a major problem in South Sudan, as is considered below.

Forestry

It’s one of the natural resources found in South Sudan but misused and exploited for personal gains by local private businesses and foreign developers. To date its contribution to the GDP is undocumented. If documented, it is unrealistic. Raw timbers can be used for multiple purposes: roofing, doors, even for building cottages. The finished product can be turned into furniture for domestic use or export – assuming the furniture will be of high quality to compete well in global markets. Manufacturing furniture will require reliable energy. Here we are back to lamentation to non-availability of reliable power supply sources.

The threats to forestry and its impact on soil erosion emanates from indiscriminate cutting of trees, without replanting. Another threat comes from those engage in charcoals businesses. It’s a lucrative business as many households in urban areas depend on charcoals for various domestic requirements.  In the rural areas people use firewood and this activity can deplete forests and result in soil degradation. The government through forest rangers must minimise deforestation so that forests become valuable assets for us and for the coming generation. 

By causing forest to disappear, we are also causing habitats of many birds, animals and reptiles to vanish with disastrous effects for all including human beings. Moreover, there will be no national parks to talk about, and no prospects for a booming tourism, which is still rudimentary. 

The author, Prof. Simon El Hag Kulusika (ZAOU, Lusaka), is a concerned citizen of South Sudan, Arapi, Pa-Geri County, Eastern Equatoria State of South Sudan. He can be reached via his email address: pa352128@gmail.com or Lusaka phone + 260973711250

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