Yiep Joseph
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. A section of the political class is now calling on President Salva Kiir to investigate the ministry of humanitarian affairs and disaster management over a possible graft.
This comes days after Peter Mayen was dismissed from the docket by the president.
The African Peoples’ Congress (APC) party now wants the government to investigate how the former ministry spent $20 million used to purchase food items for flood victims.
Mayen was relieved of his role last Wednesday even though the president did not give the reasons for the dismissal in the decree.
But APC chairperson Deng-bill William nonetheless welcomed Mayen’s removal and further urged the government to look into how the money was spent.
“I understand there was $10 million for flood-affected areas; we must know how the money was used,” Deng said.
He claimed the money for the mitigation of flood impacts may not have been used appropriately, adding that most of the areas affected by floods survive with the help of non-governmental organizations.
He added that President Kiir should order an investigation into the conduct of the former minister and have him prosecuted if found guilty.
He appealed to the president to be serious about investigating fired government officials as he plans to fight corruption in South Sudan.
“Mayen should be investigated on how he spent the money meant to help flood victims,” Deng said.
He praised Kiir’s recent speech on combating corruption in the country and urged him not to let those who died as a result of misconduct and corruption go unpunished.
“Fire and investigate and if there is evidence of corruption take that officer to court them,” he added.
“If someone is sacked or dismissed because of involvement in corruption practices, that person should be investigated and if there is evidence that the person committed such [an offence] then that person should be prosecuted,” he said.
He called on the anti-corruption commission and audit chamber to also investigate former state officials, especially how they used public resources.
“Auditors must be serious so that one-day corrupt officials must be taken to the court of law, tried by competent judges and if guilty [they can be jailed,” he said.
He stated that the investigation would be a warning for those who wanted to misuse public resources.
“This will create fear in other ministers who will later come with the hope to get rich using public money,” he said.
“People have been looting because they know that no one will investigate their conduct in the office,” he added.
Earlier this month, Mayen planned to procure 500,000 bags of sorghum to the tune of $20 million from Khartoum, Sudan.
According to the minister, the 500,000 bags of sorghum he purchased last Sunday would be distributed to five flood-affected states along the Northern corridor, as his ministry prepares to conduct a needs assessment survey for the Equatoria region next week.
Recently, Mayen told the media that the $10 million released for humanitarian aid was yet to be released by the ministry of finance and planning.
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