By William Madouk & Aweye Teddy Onam
Central Equatoria State Legislative Assembly has adopted an impeachment motion against three ministers.
The state legislators accused the three ministers of “coordinated lies” to the House over the sale of government land.
The adoption of the contentious motion divided the House, with mainly SPLM legislators, who were bitter, walking out, in protest.
Those affected include, Mr. Godwill Edward, acting minister of local government and law enforcement; Fred Laku, minister of housing and public utilities, and Viana Kakuli Aggrey, the minister of finance and planning.
An MP said, after other members of the parliament left the House, that the debate should continue as the sitting had acquired the valid quorum at the start, with 84 members.
“I think there is no need for us for to vote for this motion because the contrary motion lost automatically the member who raised the motion and the seconders all walked away so I suggest we continue and adopt the impeachment motion,” he said.
However, after the walkout, the remaining 43 MPs deliberated and adopted the motion, pending casting a vote of no-confidence against the three state ministers, on Wednesday.
As per the constitution and conduct of business, only two-third [majority] of the total members – meaning, close to 60 members are needed to effect an impeachment.
The absence of other members in the House, for the voting, prompted the speaker, Peter Wani Kulang to adjourn the session till Wednesday morning.
“We adjourn this sitting, although we have adopted the impeachment motion, go and make further consultations so that when we come back, we collaborate together,” the speaker said.
An impeachment is a process where a legislature may bring charges against an officeholder for misconduct, alleged to have been committed with a penalty of removal.
- Edward Tongo, who moved the motion, said the parliament summoned the three ministers over the exchange of Plot No. 64 block xiii, in Hai Malakal, which belongs to the state ministry of finance.
He added that the investigation committee found out that the plot had been exchanged for services by the state Ministry of Finance and Investment through the state investment authority.
However, the two ministers had denied the allegations on an earlier summon by the Parliament.
The Genesis
In a letter addressed to the state governor, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, dated August March 8 and seen by this outlet, Viana Kakuli, the state minister of finance appealed for approval to exchange the plot to allow her docket to continue giving services.
“This is to formally request your authorization to the above-stated subject matter. The plot in question belongs to the state ministry of finance, planning, and investment, CES,” the letter reads, in part.
In her letter, Kakuli disclosed that senior management in the minister had seconded exchanging the piece of land for vehicles with the Quick Global Logistics Company LTD, a private firm.
“In the wake of the current economic crisis, the ministry in its regular senior management meeting No.3/2023 resolved to offer the land to a partner in exchange of vehicles and other essential services to keep the ministry afloat,” she added.
Mrs. Kakuli in the purported document said the firm would give her docket five (5) Land Cruiser and an amount of 100,000 US dollars.
“The firm will supply the ministry with 5 new Toyota Hardtop vehicles to enable the ministry to render service that requires mobility of its staff,” she added.
She stated that the money would support the construction of the ministry’s new office.