By Philip Buda Ladu
Juba City Council has challenged the National Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and the Urban Water Corporation to address water price fluctuation in city residents.
On July 13, acting Juba City mayor, Emmanuel Khemis Richard directed the chief executive officer (CEO) to sign an order giving water tankers to increase water prices to 1,300 SSP, up from 800 SSP.
Meanwhile, the former Mayor, Michael Lado Allah-Jabu had earlier directed water tankers to lower prices from SSP 1,500 to SSP 800 following a public outcry.
However, the public received Lado’s order of lowering water price with excitement but to their astonishment both the initiator and the source of happiness never lasted long.
Lado was axed and the incoming mayor choked Juba city residents with other order of SSP 1500 rocketing price per barrel of water.
Chairperson of the Central Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce, Robert Pitia, became vocal over the water price hike per barrel, arguing that the local order didn’t consider misery of the citizens.
Pitia also reasoned that the order was issued without consultation with other stakeholders.
National minister of Water Resources and irrigation unilateral refuted the decision of the new mayor, Khemis.
The minister wrote to the Central Equatoria State government, calling for the revocation of the local order hiking water prices.
Both the National Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and Central Equatoria State Authority rejected the water price increment. They directed that Juba City Council Authority reverts water price to SSP 800 per barrel.
The minister of water resources, Pal Mai Deng in his letter addressed to the CES acting governor, maintained that Juba City Council does not produce water nor does it distribute it to final consumers.
Based on the above facts, Minister Mai argued that the city council does not have the mandate to decide and increase the price of water in the city on its own without consultation with the ministry of water resources and the Urban Water Corporation.
“As the ministry of Water Resources and South Sudan Urban Water Corporation have not increased the water production cost of SSP 100 per drum of water despite skyrocketing prices of commodities in the market, I therefore write to you (the acting CES governor) to order the acting mayor to revoke his order of water price increment as soon as possible,” minister Mai ordered.
Central Equatoria State acting Governor, Hon. Sarah Nene, upon receipt of the minister’s order, wrote a letter ordering the acting Juba City Mayor to reverse his local order.
Nene ordered that the water prices be reverted back to the previous prices of SSP 1,000 and SSP 800 for longer and shorter distances to the filling station, respectively.
However, the twist of events and backsliding from the top leaders never fell into calm mind, as the acting mayor also hit back in a letter that this outlet has seen, addressed to the managing director of the South Sudan Urban Water Corporation.
In his rebuttal, acting mayor Khemis stressed that the continued delay and dragging of the process to scientifically set water tariffs and price control on the delivery of water as a basic service to our people is unnecessary and negatively affects our people.
“I strongly recommend that the National Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the South Sudan Urban Water Corporation, and the State Government proceed and scientifically set the tariffs and outline the necessary regulation, jurisdictions, and enforcement mechanisms,” Khemis stated.
He assured that Juba City Council will only implement the final resolution that will be adopted by the aforementioned institutions once it is communicated to the city authority.
Mayor Khemis then downplayed an invitation from the managing director of the South Sudan Urban Water Corporation for a scheduled meeting on the water price matter.
Therefore, the participation of the Juba City Council in the next meeting is not so crucial. You can proceed with the meeting, and Juba City Council will be glad to receive the final decision for implementation,” he responded to the D.G. in his letter.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Juba City Council, Martin Simon Wani, issued another local order, revoking the previous one.
He directed water suppliers to adhere to the new directives from the minister of water resources by selling water to residents at SSP 800 and SSP 1,000 for longer and shorter distances to the filling station, respectively.