Opinion | What is behind Jemma Nunu Kumba’s political luck?

By Tut Kuany Kok

OPINION – “When the madness of the entire nation disturbs a solitary mind, it is not enough to say that the man is mad,” said Jere (Betrayal in The City).

Anytime something burdensome squeezes the soul extremely, it suffocates the entire body to the point where one ought to resist it, in order to save himself or herself from being devoured by this insanity. On the other hand, when the citizens try to air out their objectionable behavior or what is eating them inside, it is not to say that they are mad or they are against the law of the land. But they are fighting for their right or freedom. However, I have seen a lot of people being warned in the country for the fact that they happen to criticize the country’s leaders, who are just there without fixing the problems that the suffering masses are undergoing.

Cease from talking hell against those politicians in Juba, for you may end up being crucified,One of the citizens who fears death more than the life, the impoverished population are living in, warned me.

In relation to the title, a good number of devoted, patriotic, and the noble citizens (including the writer) dived into asking conundrum, and head scratching questions, without fear; as to why Jemma Nunu Kumba had been for ages, pocketing the most supreme positions in the government. While others do not even have an ounce of chance to run Boma, let alone Payam.

For instance, I came across the questions, such as: was Jemma Nunu Kumba born out of South Sudan or South Sudan was born out of Jemma Nunu Kumba? Was Jemma Nunu Kumba bedded by Dr. John Garang de Mabior, the godfather? Or she had been hiding behind the traditional shrines or had a connection with unknown deities that generated fortune? Or what is so special about her that the other female politicians in the country do not have? These are the questions that need an answer, based on how Jemma Nunu Kumba had been exchanging political posts for almost 20 years now.

Born in 1966 in Tumbora County, Western Equatoria Region; Jemma Nunu Kumba served in a certain company that had connections with the SPLA in the 1990s. Then, in 1999 she moved to Namibia with her husband who was once the SPLM representative to Namibia. There she enrolled in Namibia University and studied Public Administration from 1999-2002. In 2002, she submerged her legs into political fortune, where she was appointed by Dr. John Garang as one of the members who represented the SPLM in Naivasha Peace Agreement (CPA) in Kenya, until 2004. This was when her inseparable bond with Dr. John Garang de Mabior began to exist. But what happened next was Gods business.

From 2002 up to date, Jemma Nunu Kumba never missed out in any political post, and this is the very reason that makes citizens to wag their tongues whether in praising her or criticizing her. In the year 2005 after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) she became a member of the Sudan Parliament till 2008. As her political luck continued to emanate, she served as the Governor of Western Equatoria from 2008-2010. Here, you would learn that Jemma Nunu Kumba is like an infant with her mother’s breast. She also served as the Minister for Housing and Physical Planning from 2011-2013.

Again, its true that people can’t just glued their tongues on someone without reason. Once the citizens embark on expressing their explicit grievances, it’s because something is not adding up within the government that governs them. In 2013-2015 Jemma Nunu Kumba served as the Minister of Electricity, Dams, Irrigation and Water Resources. From 2015 up to date, she served as Acting General Secretary of the SPLM and Minister of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism from 2016-2019. However, in the ongoing R-ARCISS she was appointed as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs as well as the Speaker of R-TNLA. In total, she holds three important positions. While other capable politicians have none!

Though she was in gubernatorial position for two years in Western Equatoria, people still complain up till now that Jemma Nunu Kumba failed them terribly unlike her successor who changed the face of Yambio. During her tenure, people never enjoyed peace in Western Equatoria. Also, as a Minister of Housing and Planning, the birth of homelessness and destitution reigned. Even today, people who were supposed to have lived a happy life did not have it. Because they are homeless, due to the poor management and land grabbing injected in the Ministry of Housing and Planning.

In the very City of Juba, there has never been sufficient electricity. Only the national offices and the houses of big politicians have electricity. There are no Dams in the country. Nunu, amassed to herself the budget that was supposed to be for Damsconstruction and electricity in the country. In the sector of Wildlife Conservation, she didnt do anything. Animals were killed under her watch. However, this shows that Jemma Nunu has never been competent in all the government offices that she held so far. Then, why the government gives such an incompetent person to run its institutions for virtually twenty years?

Was the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior the reason behind Jemma Nunu Kumbas political luck? Yes of course! He was. Since Nunu joined the struggle, she was spotted several times with Garang, and many believe that they had a bastard son or daughter. This is the very reason that keeps her in political limelight for almost two decades. But, is South Sudan their own property? Even if Dr. John Garang de Mabior paved the way for her, should she continue being in the race all the time even though she is not competent…?

Just to take us back. During the struggle for independence, all the South Sudanese including farmers were involved. They fought extremely hard, so that they could have the country they call theirs. They fought extremely hard so that the culture of oppression, marginalization and totalitarianism imposed on them by the Arab North of Sudan could end. They weren’t involved in such a struggle because some individuals should have absolute power above others. Now it happens that, there are those who never miss out in the political arena, for they think that, they have it in mind that the country belongs to them and they have to be there for posterity as if they were born to do so. What’s the meaning of a country when others are being deemed worthless? What’s the point of having a country when millions are dying while few are drowning in luxury?

However, seeing one person shifting from one national office to another is not only an affront to the system of governance but also to the people of South Sudan. If it’s about competence, there are a lot of female politicians who are more competent than Jemma Nunu Kumba. They’re even more educated than her. Therefore, those who saw an inseparable bond back then between Jemma Nunu Kumba and the late Dr. John Garang were right. And this inseparable bond wasn’t for nothing. But the question shouldn’t be whether she was bedded by Dr. John Garang or not. The question should be, do they have a bastard child? Which is likely to be true. No doubt that the late Garang paved the way for her.

In conclusion, it is high time for the citizens to understand that the country belongs to everyone, not for few. The likes of Nunu Kumba and those I will talk about with time, should have to bear it in mind that they dont own the country. It is never their birth right to run its institutions even when they are incompetent. It is high time for the youth to identify their potential and fight for what rightfully belongs to them. Whether through broad daylight revolution or peaceful transfer of power to them. The country doesnt belong to Salva Kiir nor Dr. Riek Machar. Or even Jemma Nunu Kumba. It naturally belongs to all its citizens regardless of where they hail from. It belongs to those who believe in the power of pluralism, coexistence, wealth sharing and patriotism.

The Writer is a Political and Human Rights Activist. He can be reached through his email: tutkuany7@gmail.com.

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