Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Authorities in Makuach Payam in Bor County have rejected the order by Bor Mayor that banned “random collection of taxes” in the town.
On January 3, Mayer Samuel Ateny Pech issued an order banning the collection of levies and issuance of licences in the town by the neighbouring payams.
Pech noted in the order that “five kilometres of Bor Municipality must be demarcated and respected” and “those found violating the order would be brought to book.”
“Anyone who would be found doing this must be arrested and brought to book. “The victim must be jailed for two months and shall be fined SSP300,000, which must be paid by his or her institution before he/she is released,” Pech noted in the order.
“The money collected and the forms for collection must be presented before the court,” he added. He ordered the security forces and chiefs to make sure the order is respected in their areas.
But this order seems to have irked Mayen Amol, an administrator, who signed the letter issued by Makuach Payam, vowing to disobey the order.
He argued that the territory of the municipality remains in its five-kilometre radius.
“The Land Act of 2009 states unequivocally that land belongs to the community; it belongs to the county, Payam, and Boma, but it does not mention municipality.
“Amol stated. “Therefore, Section 74 of the Local Government Act 2009 has permitted Makuach Payam and Anyidi Payam to control and generate revenues in their territories.”
“A five-kilometre radius was discussed and proposed verbally by the community as cited in your letter, but it was not signed into law and no demarcation has been done up to now by any authority in our state,” he added, arguing that the municipal council is an illegal public institution under land ownership.
“To prove it right, the municipality is being treated as one of six payams of Bor County under humanitarian, beneficiary allocation.”
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
