Yiep Joseph
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The stakeholders tasked with drafting land policy have appealed to the government to fund the process to end conflicts stemming from ownership rows.
Despite the land policy initiative beginning in 2006, before the county got its independence, it is yet to accomplish its mission.
Reports have revealed that the ministry of land, housing, and urban development continues to encounter challenges such as limited funds during the process.
During the stakeholders meeting to discuss issues surrounding the ongoing draft land policy on Thursday, the Director for Land Ministry of Land Housing, and Urban Development, George Ritti Richard, called on the government to adequately fund the drafted land policy processes.
“We have one painful issue of finances that prevents us from bringing] people who are experts to think and work on the drafted land policy [because] you have to give them something, and you all know the situation we are in now,” he lamented.
He called on the top officials to work around the clock and make the document necessary.
He argued that the land policy would help to reduce land-related crimes such as land grabbing and the illegal occupation of public spaces by some individuals.
He appealed to members of parliament to push the government to avail funds to complete the land policy.
“The issue of research is very important. Even now we have a department of research and development in our ministry but no money to fund its activities,” he said.
He said the department of research is supposed to monitor the quality of building materials being used for construction in the country.
The Deputy Chairperson of Land Infrastructure and State Boundaries in the Council of States, Peter Juoj Machar, appealed to the government to facilitate reforms in the country in order to end land grabbing.
“Land policy needs money since it needs research, and there is a need for the government to put more money aside to ensure that the drafted land policy,” Machar said.
He stated that the confusion in land grabbing would not end in Juba unless those behind the mess were punished.
Victoria Nasirah, a member of parliament in the Council of States and a member of the special committee for land, said it the government’s responsibility to support the policy to end land grabbing.
More appeals
She appealed to the government to fund land reform policies in order to ensure that land-related conflicts are reduced.
According to Dr. Peter Duku Wani, a professor at the University of Juba, the land policy may not solve all the necessary problems, but there is a need to fund the policy development processes.
He called on members of parliament to speed up the process and avoid criticism when the policy reaches the parliament.
‘‘There is need for the parliamentarians to cooperate, work together, and avoid criticising the policy when the land policy later reaches the parliament,’’ he said.
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