South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development on Wednesday held a two-day consultative workshop for members of parliament on national land policy.
The workshop organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was held under the theme “Building Consensus for National Land Policy”.
It aims to address issues pertaining land acquisition and its management.
Michael Chanjiek, Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development said the policy will tackle a number of issues including security of land and ensure equitable access to land.
“I want to tell our people of South Sudan, that this is your policy and we are now working with parliamentarians so that we make sure that this policy is passed so that it will lead us to other important policies,” Chanjiek told journalists after opening of the workshop at parliament’s premises in Juba.
He said the workshop will ensure that parliamentarians have a better understanding of the land policy.
For her part, Dr. Jemma Nunu Kemba, Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly said this policy aims to ensure equitable access to land, promote sustainable land use practices, and protect the rights of all citizens including women, youth and marginalized groups.
“Together we can craft a policy that not only addresses the pressing land issues of today, but also lays a solid foundation for future generations to come,” said Nunu.
“Let us give ourselves time to make comprehensive consultations, so that at the end of the day, the policy we are going to pass in this house should be a collective effort, and it should be owned by everyone,” she added.
Meanwhile, Gen. Augustino Jadalla Kamilio, Governor of Central Equatoria State stressed the need to initiate national debate to review the national land policy and the Land Act 2009 in order to achieve consensus over land use and management.
Jadalla said that the national debate when initiated will help address issues of land grabbing.
Meshak Malo, FAO Country Representative in South Sudan said that everybody in South Sudan, including the farmers, need clarity on land matters.
“If you are sure that the land is yours, you are going to be able to invest more money and once you are not sure then you are not able to invest,” said Malo.
David Kwaje, IGAD Head of Mission in South Sudan said the objective of the workshop is to increase the awareness and to sensitize MPs on land issues.
“They are able to address the challenges as well as the contentious issues surrounding the land use and land administration, not only in Juba but also across the country,” said Kwaje.
The National Land Policy was drafted in 2009 together with the Land Act.
Currently, the country still relies on the pre-independence 2009 Land Act, while each state has its own land policies, laws, and regulations.
After the declaration of independence in 2011, land policies were taken back to parliament for review.
When the parliament was about to deliberate on the Draft National Land Policy in 2014, the Ministry of lands withdrew it, citing the shallowness of the document, and requested further review.
Since 2005 and the 2011 independence, land disputes have been a great concern among South Sudanese.
These have been particularly common in the capital Juba and other major towns where land disputes have caused violent conflicts resulting in deaths and displacements.
