Lawmakers threaten to impeach ministers for disrespecting parliament

JUBA – South Sudan lawmakers on Wednesday threatened to impeach government ministers after nine government officials failed to attend to summon by the parliament over escalating floods.

Speaking to journalists in Juba on Wednesday, Paul Yoane, the designated chairperson of information specialized committee in parliament, said the parliament’s patient is running out and this will results in measures such as impeachment.

“I don’t want to say that we are going to do that, but most likely if they are going to continue dragging their feet and not attending, as you have seen the mood of the members, the members want to see the ministers and hear from them,’’ he said.

“I want to repeat myself that the patience of the parliamentarians and the patience of the parliament is running out as far as ministers being summoned to come and answer the questions,” he warned.

The South Sudanese lawmaker further said summons by the parliament for ministers “is not a choice, it is mandatory because we are dealing with issues connected to the lives of the people.”

Yesterday, the parliamentarian expressed lawmakers’ furry over failure by members of the revitalized transitional government to honor summons by parliaments to answer questions on devastating floods.

Last month, the national assembly summoned eight ministers and two chairpersons from the independent commissions to the August House to answer questions regarding ravaging floods.

They include the minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management, the minister of environment and forestry, the minister of finance and planning, the minister of interior, the minister of health, and the minister of petroleum.

According to Yoane, those ministers refused to show up, except for the chairperson of Relief and Rehabilitation Commission Dr. Manasse Lomole Waya.

“The sitting has been adjourned although it looks premature we have to admit that most ministers who were summoned did not appear with exception of the chairperson for Relief and Rehabilitation Commission Dr, Manasseh Lomole Waya,” Yoane said.

“The summon is going to be resubmitted to these ministries and I believe once it reaches that within a few weeks they will appear and testify to what their ministries are doing regarding the issue of floods to minimize the suffering of our people in Upper Nile, Unity, and Jonglei, and many others,” he added.