The administration of the Juba City Chamber of Commerce on Monday dismissed reports of corruption and tribalism in the current office.
Last week, the former secretary general of the chamber, Victor Sebit, issued a statement accusing the current leadership of being corrupt and called for the suspension of the acting chairperson. Mr Victor was suspended from his position as secretary general of the chamber in July.
Speaking to Journalists at a press conference in Juba on Monday, Sule Alphonse Modi, the acting chairperson of the chamber, described the reports as mere allegations made to tarnish his office’s image.
“As the acting chairperson of the Juba City Chamber of Commerce, Sule Alphonse Modi, I reject the statement. My former secretary, Victor Sebit, his statement in the media is like he is still active with us. Victor Sebit has been suspended from the officer of the Juba City Chamber of Commerce on the 14th of July 2023,” Modi said.
“I want to send this message clearly to the traders that Mr. Victor Sebit is no longer a Juba City Chamber of Commerce member,” he added.
Modi explained that before the suspension of Victor Sebit, he was served with two warnings and later suspended for his failure to show improvement in executing his duties and responsibilities as secretary general.
The acting chairperson also dismissed reports that the Juba City Chamber of Commerce is sending money directly to the Central Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce leadership, which needs to be accounted for.
Modi said that the only money he sends to the state Chamber of Commerce is a percentage regulated by law as a service fee collected from traders in the various markets across the city.
“About the allegations and issues of corruption related to the administration of Juba City Chamber of Commerce, it’s really wrong. The statement is not correct. We do not have any income-generating activity that is to run our office. We normally depend on the market contributions support that they give us, which is monthly,” he said.
“Since we have come to Juba City Chamber of Commerce, Now, there is a chain of reporting system, whereby the market will report to us Juba City chamber, and we report to Central Equatoria state, then the state also reports to the National Chamber of Commerce,” Modi added.
Responding to tribalism allegations, Samuel Majak Mabior, Chairperson of Rock City and Mouna Markets, who spoke on behalf of the other chairpersons, refuted the allegations.
“It is put clearly that this office is doing tribalism. That point, I dispute it. As I stated earlier, I said I am called Samuel Majak. I am a Dinka by tribe, working as Chairperson of Rock City and Mouna markets in Central Equatoria. If such a thing is there, I think I could not have become a chairperson in this state,” Majak stated.
“It shows that these people have falsely accused the current administration of the Chamber of Commerce. I was appointed by the Central Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce chairperson,” he added.