South Sudanese this week responded angrily to press reports about government roads-building contracts and letter of credit system, claiming pervasive corruption in government institutions even as many citizens suffer from hunger and destitution.

A report published on Tuesday evening revealed that President Salva Kiir was linked to ABMC construction company in spite of constitutional prohibitions that make it illegal for top officials to “transact commercial business” or earn income from outside the government. Follow-up reports pointed to overspending on roads-building by more than 1500% in the fiscal year 2012/2013 and non-competitive awarding of contracts to ABMC.

Readers reacted to these reports on social media forums and in messages to Radio Tamazuj.

Gabriel Machok questioned what was happening with public roads funding. “I think no highways being built despite the huge amount is allocated to the roads developmental projects, no good tarmac roads connecting Juba to other ten states of South Sudan. The real question is, 'Where does the money go?'”

Admon Philips criticized ABMC company saying, “How many years they have been in Juba and how many roads have been constructed?”

For his part, Elijah Riek commented about the 1513% overspending by the Ministry of Roads and Bridges. “This marks the fact that the Ministry has admitted the corruption scandals since there are no tangible roads and bridges being constructed and poor road network has been the daily challenging songs,” he said.

Likewise, Jack said, “Where are these roads? How many teachers at Juba University have not been paid in many months? Stealing from the people in need is the worst sin.”

Another reader, Alfred Simon, criticized government instiuttions for “secretly” arranging government tenders rather than doing open bidding. “The government is corrupted from grass root levels up to the high officials,” he commented.

Julu Samuel called for investigation of the minister of roads and bridges. Peter Malith wondered why the Finance Ministry paid out money without proper analysis. “There is a need to handle the public fund and utilization in a good care otherwise we are heading to nowhere.”

“The work of the ministry of finance is to control and allocate the money based on the approved government budget and control the payments based on the good receipts and bid documents,” said Peter.

Tut reacted to claims by President Kiir's spokesman Ateny Wek that Kiir does not even have a bank account, let alone shares in any private company: “I have a question to Mr Ateny Wek who denied that President Kirr has no bank account neither inside or outside South Sudan. My question is, Where does the President Kiir keep his money, if he has no any bank account? He has monthly salary right? Where does they put his salary if he has no bank account in South Sudan?”

David Pajong said simply, “Sorry I voted for a corrupt president.”

Other citizens expressed concern about reports about corruption in the Letter of Credit system administered by the government. A reader from Warrap, Madut, said that the Central Bank awarded millions of dollars to companies to import sorghum to bring down food prices but they failed to do so. “Nothing has been seen since this money was approved. People are sleeping without food now in the state leave alone the counties,” he said.

Akoon commented about newly published lists of South Sudanese companies that were given dollars by the government at a preferential rate less than three times the street value of the dollar. “Those are kangaroo companies and emblezzement, corruptionist companies. What have they brought to South Sudan's people who are now still in starvation?” he said.

Emmanuel lamented, “Corruption at grand scale... while the country is starving and no single development for the people. What a big shame.” 

Some citizens doubted whether corrupt officials would ever be brought to justice. “It is just a news to read but there will be no action against the culprits,” said Dotmajuiel Reng.

Emmanuel said sarcastically, “Corruption continues! Long live corruption, long live poverty, long live illiteracy, the system must continue!”

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Related:

List of South Sudanese companies accessing dollars at preferential rate

ABMC directes employees not to talk to media

Special investigation: President Kiir linked to multi-million dollar roads contracts