The Governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, unveiled a strategic plan for the year 2022 during the expanded Extraordinary State Council of Ministers meeting which was also attended by the state government advisors and the heads of the state independent commissions.

The meeting was convened to review the state government performance in 2021, identify challenges met and design a plan to turn the challenges around and create opportunities for the state.

The statement released by the gubernatorial press unit shows that the strategic plan and focus for the New Year by the government of Central Equatoria State is divided into seven areas including security stabilisation, land grabbing, rampant cattle movement, communal conflict, coordination with humanitarian and development, electronic revenue collection and repatriation of refugees and IDPs.

“The state leadership shall continue to devise stronger and robust peace programmes with an aim of putting to an end civil war and rebellion across the state and as well as engaging the holdout groups to denounce violence and join the wagon of peace,” said the Governor on the security stabilisation.

Governor Adil directed the ministry of housing, land commission and the ministry of local government to formulate a land survey and demarcation strategy to end land grabbing and informal settlement in the suburbs of Juba.

He said that the state government would enact laws to regulate the rampant movement of cattle in the state. He directed the state ministries of animal resources and local government to find means of addressing the matter.

 “The state leadership and other line government institutions shall exhibit the spirit of cordial coordination with partners and tap into their potential plans for the full realisation of tangible services to the people of Central Equatoria State,” he stated.

 “Government together with other partners will intensify efforts geared towards rebuilding the social fabrics and devise more mechanisms on conflict resolution and management at all levels.”

They said the state government would soon revert to electronic revenue collection to ease facilitating state government operations. The governor promised that his government would create a conducive environment through stable security for repatriation, resettlement and reintegration of refugees.

“After exhaustive deliberations on the governor’s policy statement, the members unanimously resolved to work for the realization or implementation of the above mentioned key issues to (deliver) tangible services to the people of Central Equatoria State,” the statement concluded.

Directive issued                                

Last week, Governor Adil directed the ministry of lands, housing, and public utilities in the state to find a lasting solution to land grabbing.

The directive came after the governor and the Vice President for Economic Cluster, Dr James Wani Igga, met to discuss issues affecting the state.

Adil stressed the need to draw land acquisition policies according to the land act so that land grabbing would be solved.

He directed the chairperson of the state land commission Fredrick Lado to collaborate with the state ministry of land, housing and public utilities to find the solution to land disputes.

“You need to work hard and together, [and] you need to formulate and take up necessary awareness and raise clear land policies and acquisition of land in the state as stipulated in the Land Act.” This is the work you are expected to do,” he instructed.

Plan drawn

In his meeting with governor Adil, the vice president for economic cluster Dr Wani Igga highlighted a plan of addressing obstacles faced by the state including land grabbing, cattle herders occupying farmlands, insecurity and the return of the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The two leaders vowed to cooperate with local communities to find viable solutions to the aforementioned problems.

 “The two called for a maximum level of cooperation from the civil population, especially in dealing with the predominant issues of land grabbing, citing that the public should strictly follow the rightful procedures for the acquisition of land as enshrined in the legal documents of this country.”

Governor Adil described the visit as a way forward, encouragement and blessings as his leadership rolls out some comprehensive programmes across the state that are geared towards service delivery.

Four pillar system

In October 2021, Adil directed all the partners and government institutions in the state to align their duties according to the four pillar system his government had introduced to avoid overlap of activities.

In his speech at the state governor and partners’ forum, the governor revealed the four pillars as peace and security stabilization; economic recovery; service delivery; and good neighbourliness.

He explained that peace and security stabilization would promote dialogue among communities to ensure that peace and security prevail. The economic recovery pillar would work on recovering the economy through the provision of loans to support agriculture and entrepreneurship.

“The service delivery pillar would aim at rehabilitation of destroyed infrastructure, training of human resources and combating covid-19 pandemic among others,” he explained. 

The good neighbourliness pillar would make sure that the state government maintains good relations with its neighbours.