Government urged to provide business space for traders in Juba

JUBA – South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce is calling on the government to provide business space for traders whose shops were demolished last week by Juba City Council.

Last week, Juba City Council demolished all illegal buildings that were constructed on the streets of Juba City to reduce traffic jams along the roads.

Speaking to reporters during Wednesday’s press conference in Juba, Robert Pitia, Central Equatoria state chamber of commerce called on the nation and state government to intervene and rescue these traders whose shops were demolished by Juba City Council.

“Those traders are mostly South Sudanese who have rights since they contribute to the economic development of the country. Why are we making our own people suffer when the government can help them and make life easy for them,” Pitia told reporters in Juba on Wednesday.

“The government should try to look for other alternatives because these people are South Sudanese and they have responsibilities, and a lot problem facing them at their houses. The order has affected students’ vendors who don’t have guardians to pay for their school fees or someone to feed or cater for their needs,” he added.

Stephen Wani Aquilino, the chairperson for the Juba City Chamber of commerce said demolishing shops without providing space for traders is a disaster.

“Over 60 percent of local businesses in Juba city is run by those who do not have approved space take those market spaces without replacement are a disaster,” Wani said.

Wani pledged with the government to allot the empty space near the University of Juba to traders.

“There is empty space near or next to Juba University custom campus. That place needs to be cleared, it can take our traders, or vendors who are practicing their business on the road, we need our traders to be accommodated inside those buildings,” he said.