The members of the state legislative assembly in Western Equatoria State on Monday took the oath of office and Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba advised them to shun their party colors and work together for peace and development.
The state parliamentarians were appointed by President Salva Kiir last year.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony in Yambio, Governor Futuyo congratulated them and urged the lawmakers to work for peace and development.
“The government of Western Equatoria State welcomes you so that we can stand and work as one people to bring peace and development in the state,” Governor Futuyo said. “Congratulations to you all. The executive will join hands with you and work together so that peace comes and development continues in the state.”
He added: “Speaker, all the politicians who have come to parliament, being SPLA-IO, SPLM, SSOA or OPP and others those, are not politicians of their party starting from today. They are your politicians because you are head them and all of us must stop party politics and work do politics of development in the areas you represent.”
The governor acknowledged and told the legislatures that the source of insecurity in the state is the delay in graduating the unified forces and urged them to raise the matter with the presidency.
For her part, the speaker of the Western Equatoria State legislature, Wakila Charles, said they will support the executive in ensuring good governance and called on development partners to support the house through training.
“I call upon the development partners such as UNDP and UNMISS to support the training of the new parliamentarians to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently,” Speaker Wakila said. “I assure all of you that this parliament will make the executive more transparent and strong.”
Some of the lawmakers who spoke to Radio Tamazuj after the ceremony promised to work for the country and ensure service delivery to their constituents.
Grace Faustino Monondere, who represents Nzara Constituency on the SPLM ticket, said he is going to work for peace in his constituency and the state at large.
“We are going to enable laws that will guide our state and help our people, he said.
Another lawmaker, Martin Dasoko Mbata, SPLM-IO member representing Tambura County, said he will focus on the improvement of security.
“I will try my level best and with the help of my colleagues to solve the problems of Tambura because the killings in Tambura are very bad. Even as we are talking now, people are dying hunger in Ezo IDPs camp,” Mbata said.
Out of 100 lawmakers who constitute the state parliament, only 79 took the oath of office.