"Military/Dictatorship Government or Implement Decentralization:" Let the People Decide
By J. Omunu, SOUTH SUDAN MAY 19/2011, SSN; I've to acknowledge from the onset that the above heading was taken from Mr. Deng Riek Khoryoam's article Decentralization: a 'best option for ROSS' but lacking practicality posted on SSN (MAY 18/2011). Without wasting much time, let me dive into this central ongoing debate on the Draft Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan known as (DTC2011-RoSS). Accordingly, whereas the pro-status quo would argue that the Interim Constitution of South Sudan (ICSS2005) has served South Sudan well thus far, and people should move on because there shouldn't be a problem with the DTC2011, well, you don't have to be a constitutional scholar to detect this interesting twist given the fact this very document was exclusively drafted by the appointees of the executive, mostly from the same dominant ruling party, who alone interpreted the ICSS2005 selectively to fit their political calculus and control over unchecked concentrated power in the center for the last six years. Unfortunately, as things stands now, it looks like we are no longer rooting for federalism just for unknown fear from the other quarters who are thinking that if put into practice, it will 100% enable South Sudanese masses to shift their loyalties from narrow party politics to the state and national government focus in order to keep that loose power under their (people) control. Differently put, practical federal system will divide power between two distinct governments as well as among separate branches of government, something the pro- status quo won't easily let go come what. Thus, devolution of power seemed to be a nightmare for now, and above and beyond being a way of distributing power widely to the lowest level as well as resources and services to the periphery, it's also a way of putting democracy into actual practice. Thus a constitutions that does not take the popular sovereign's views into account (people's participation) or ready for political compromises is automatically authoritarian constitution, as Khoryoam argued. There is no question about it, that Presidency in Africa has and continued to provoke mixed reactions in the post-colonial governments. Presidency is appealing to every concerned living human being because of its connection to control over economic and political power that the cool office holders are enjoying. So, don't be fooled that ours in South Sudan will be unique or different situation, oh yeah! It's the same old damned game: Being a powerful president means more goodies to family members, relatives, tribesmen, cronies/allies whose first job duty is to undermine the constitution and democratic institutions supposedly to promote justice and fairness in the country. It is, thus, very vital for the civil society groups to have greater role in the going debate e.g. Prof. Lokuji from the University of Juba and Hon. Dr. Richard K. Mulla must be applauded for job well done and for having exerted more efforts at this critical juncture to make sure that DTC2011 is a people-driven process rather than a constitution driven by appointees of Mr. President who care much about their grip on power. Now, why I concur with Mr. Deng Riek Khoryoam's assertion that ‘Decentralization’ is a good system simply as he rightly put, "it's what the people of South Sudan want, and have always been yearning to get, as a best form of governance." As he pointed elsewhere in between the text that 'decentralization' is the sharing of political power among the three arms of government namely the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary as well as sharing powers between the state and national governments. Is that really a bad thing, ya jama? An Englishman called William Pitt was quoted to have said, "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it." And if, indeed, that power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, then what the heck is wrong with our "liberators" the SPLM party? Haven't they (the pro-status quo) realized yet that the power has already gone into some comrades' heads who are/were entrusted with key powerful positions such as ministry of finance or SPLA affairs, and such stealing and looting public coffers spree with impunity for good six years- literally being seen as just cause and normal practices? May be I am being too naive here, but what is wrong with Juba government ceding some powers to the states- for administrative and procedural exercise of moving some basic operations from congested Juba Capital to Warrap, Torit or Bor? Ya' jama! (People!) Decentralization without administrative, political and economic transfer of planning responsibility and national and state governments is not decentralization at all, but a Unitary/Centralized system of government. Simple as that. Come on! I mean we all know how a greedy centralized system in Khartoum was able all along to condemn us (Junubin) to Stone Age by keeping us naked and hungry for decades/ages. It makes a mockery of our current leadership in juba to turn around and embrace the same old Sudan failed system of governance. It is really mind boggling and if not, it defeats any logic! One doesn't have to be a student of history to let those who are fighting hard to centralize power in Juba be reminded that devolution of power encourages modernization and delivery of services to not only rural communities but Juba, Wau or Malakal residents as well. I, you and we don't have to invent the wheel as it has already been proven in other industrialized advanced democracies, that indeed, 'decentralization' if properly implemented will always lead to improved governance and economic performance simply because it empowers local communities at state level to manage their own resources effectively as people at certain geographic region or locale exactly know who is who when it comes to the development project planning and implementation (sense of ownership if you will). It will also provide more room for political participation and inclusiveness as it puts more emphasis on the local development needs (easy bottom-up approach to development), as such, rampant corruption will be minimize to some extent and usual Mr. O.K. excuses that she or he hasn't come or arrived from Khartoum or Juba will cease to exist. Why and how? Well, like in the U.S.A, people employed by the government at the Country level will draw their salaries from the County's revenues probably through tax collections means and local resource exploitation. If you're smart people enough and very innovative administratively , well, your County employees will get fat salaries, better schools, health care provision and other basic services within the community reach. However, if you love handouts and petro-dollars or relief food so much, then be better prepared to face the music and other natural calamities. In sum, our MPs at the SSLA (parliament) in Juba should NOT enact legislation that was intentionally meant to appease Mr. President by showering him with too much powers and unnecessary functions that makes no sense at all. By doing so, the same powerful people will make an about-turn and come back to haunt them one-by-one in the same way President Museveni mistreated opposition leader Kizza Besigye, himself a personal doctor of Museveni during the guerrilla war that brought Museveni to power in 1985. You may recall that Colonel Besigye was a comrade in the struggle who later became Museveni's Minister of State for Internal Affairs, and then Minister of State in the President's office and got promoted to other key and sensitive position only reserved for Mr. President inner trusted circle. But because of too much unnecessary powers, the one-time liberator son of Kaguta turned into a merciless dictator and monster ready to send his fellow comrades to the alien world prematurely. We either do it right now, e.g. see ESCA-USA/Diaspora proposed amendments on DTC2011, or surrender to Military/Dictatorship Government and be prepared to face the same fate bedeviling the people of Uganda, Eritrea and Zimbabwe. That choice is ours. So, Let people decide! COMMENTS, PLEASE CLICK HERE Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent those of the website. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
