South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mary Nawai Martin, presented last week the biannual report to the national legislature that covers the period from 2022 to 2023, dealing mainly with issues related to the promotion and strengthening of democracy, developing the oversight capacity, building efficient communication and coordination mechanisms leading to the formulation of sound political policies, and enhancing political stability.
The Dawn newspaper’s Jenifer James spoke to her in an exclusive interview on Friday, last week in Juba. Below are excerpts from the interview.
Jenifer: Tell us about the biannual report that you presented before the parliament?.
Minister: The report is in accordance with article 81 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011 (as amended) read together with the regulation (51) of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (RTNLA) conduct of Business Regulation 20 l I (as amended, 2021).
This biannual report is presented and mandated to inform the august house of the activities the ministry of parliamentary affairs has been undertaking in the last two years. The report presents the background of the ministry and the structure, the progressive activities undertaken so far, the challenges, and recommendations. The report covers the period from 2022 to 2023, dealing mainly with issues related to the promotion and strengthening of democracy, developing the oversight capacity, building efficient communication and coordination mechanisms leading to the formulation of sound political policies, and enhancing political stability.
The purpose of my presentation was to inform Parliament about the background of the Ministry, its vision, mission, core values, and the activities undertaken over the last two and a half years. As executives, we are accountable to Parliament, so it’s crucial to keep them updated on our activities. When we inform them (MPs) about our activities, they can relay that information to the people they represent. Additionally, they allocate resources for our activities, so they need to be aware of what we are doing.
Jenifer: Can you briefly highlight some major achievements?
Minister: One major achievement was organizing the first exposure visit for women members of Parliament to Kenya and Rwanda, involving 30 participants. We also trained clerks from all 10 state parliaments in Dubai to enhance their capacity. Furthermore, we trained parliamentary liaison officers from 35 ministries to improve communication between ministers and Parliament.
Jenifer: Were there any measurable outcomes from the trainings?
Minister: Yes, there has been significant improvement. Members of Parliament are now more active, raising motions and summoning ministers to discuss national issues, regardless of political affiliation. This engagement is a clear indication of the training’s effectiveness.
Jenifer: What challenges are you facing in your office?
Minister: The Ministry has faced numerous challenges, which include but are not limited to inadequate funding, lack of training, limited manpower and language deficiency, lack of adequate skilled and experienced staff, especially for senior posts, lack of enough office accommodation, a high inflation rate that increases operation costs, transport challenges due to a lack of vehicles, a high cost of training, insecurity in some places, budget cuts, and a ceiling allocated to the Ministry that caters only to salaries with little for services and other planned activities.
Secondly, the executive at the state level doesn’t fully understand the roles of parliamentarians. There can be misunderstandings when ministers are summoned, leading to tension. Additionally, not all ministers attend sittings, which is essential for effective governance.
Jenifer: Are there any new legislative proposals currently being considered?
Minister: Yes, the report was referred to the Committee of Government Assurance. We have developed a strategic plan and policy framework for the Ministry, which will soon be presented to the governance cluster before going to Parliament.
Jenifer: What is your long-term vision for improving parliamentary affairs in South Sudan?
Minister: My long-term vision is to strengthen the understanding of parliamentary roles among both executives and MPs. “I want them to effectively scrutinize budgets and focus on serving the people rather than political parties.”. Civic engagement programs will also be prioritized to educate citizens about their rights.
Jenifer: Do you have any final messages or anything you feel has been left out?
Minister: I want the public to know that this Parliament is committed to addressing the needs of the people of South Sudan. We are working together with the executive to tackle issues like hunger and climate change. I appreciate the public’s resilience and unity, which are vital for progress. Together, we aim for positive change in the next two years.
