By Bida Elly David
National Minister of Trade, William Anyuon Kuol, has announced that the long-awaited subsidized food items have arrived in the capital city, Juba.
The minister’s announcement came after he was summoned by the National Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
“We are really sorry because the food has been delayed, but now it has arrived in Central Equatoria State,” Kuol said, acknowledging the delay in the arrival of the items.
The minister explained that the subsidized food items are currently available in six distribution zones within Central Equatoria, each with three selling centres.
He stated that the Eastern and Western zones were the first target areas, where the food is currently being sold at a 50% discounted rate compared to the prevailing market prices.
“There are six zones for distribution where these items are 50% of the current prices, and that is the modality,” Kuol emphasized.
However, the minister failed to provide details on the total quantity of the subsidized food items that have arrived, or the names of the companies involved in the importation.
Kuol assured the lawmakers that the next consignment of subsidized food would be extended to other states with desperate populations.
He stressed that the government is committed to this short-term plan to rescue the economy and improve the well-being of the South Sudanese people.
“We are not only importing food items but also medicines for the good health of our population in South Sudan,” the minister added.
While welcoming the arrival of the subsidized food, some lawmakers, such as Victor Omuho from Torit County, urged the minister to disclose the names of the companies contracted to transport the food items.
“There is no way the ministry can sign a contract with a company that is not known, we need to know the names of the companies,” Omuho demanded.