South Sudanese lawmakers are to conduct business outside the parliament building to allow a renovation project that will take months, a lawmaker disclosed.
It is the first time national MPs in Juba have moved out of the historic parliament building since it was renovated more than 10 years ago.
Paul Yoane Bonju, the head of the parliamentary committee for information, said sittings of the parliament have been relocated to the Freedom Hall, a tent meant for public events.
“This building is an old building. The foundation stone for this building was laid on July 26, 1973. The assembly was renovated 10 or 14 years ago. At the moment, it is not fit to accommodate members especially when they are conducting business,” said Yoane.
He said A.F.K. Concept Ltd, a Lebanese company, started renovating the building two weeks ago and the work will take more than months.
“As soon as the renovation work by Skyline is over, we will be back. I can assure you it will not take us more than two and a half months to resume normal business inside the chambers,” said the lawmaker.
Yoane, however, said the constitution of South Sudan gives the legislators lieu to conduct business from anywhere in the country.
The lawmaker dismissed claims that leakages in the parliamentary building due to the recent heavy rains prompted the ongoing renovation work.
The cost of the renovation project was not announced by the parliament.