Trisha Cee’s death, another testament to the poor governance in South Sudan

The death of the Renowned singer Trisha Cosmas is another testament to the poor governance experienced by the people of South Sudan.

The singer reportedly died after getting involved in a grisly road accident on Monday. According to a report reaching NCMP and an eyewitness report published by Eye Radio, a Juba-based media house, a water tank lost control and ran over a boda-boda at Mobile Roundabout.

Most South Sudanese have been victims of these water tanks that are very old and are basically not roadworthy. The drivers too also are not usually licensed.

The Government’s inability to provide basic amenities for its citizens has claimed several lives directly and indirectly. Good and effective governance saves lives. With all the resources the government has available, the concerned ministries and institutions, with impunity, continue to refuse to bring piped water to South Sudanese. It has been 15years since the Ministry of Water and Urban Water corporation was tasked with doing that, no tangible result yet.

Despite the annual budgets, no tangible results. It’s supposed to, with the help of the Japanese, complete the construction of the water plant near Dr. John Garang’s museum but the construction was stopped after Juba descended into chaos again in 2016.

Insecurity generally drives away investment and development. The rise of insecurity in the country doesn’t allow any meaningful development to take place. And the government has a lot to do in other to eradicate the insecurity in the country.

South Sudan’s systemic corruption is its largest hindrance to development, peace, and stability. Right from the leaders, to the weakened institutions. The police collect bribes from the water tank drivers so that they can drive without a license. The water tank drivers are usually at top speed at the roundabout or whenever they spot a gang of traffic police officers. The traffic boys and girls are always on the road as early as 5 am with the sole aim of milking trucks, sedans, and other vehicles that are non-V-8 or security vehicles.

Also the number of traffic police points from Konyo-konyo to Luri is alarming, How many times does the driver have to pay bribes to the traffic police? What’s left of him? Nothing. As a result, they try to get away from the corrupt men and women; and in the process, lives can be lost.

A country mired in deeply-rooted ethnic conflict and lacking in resources requires resilient state institutions to survive. Unfortunately, South Sudan’s kleptocratic culture has done more to weaken the state than anything else. All institutions need to be accountable, public institutions such as the anti-corruption commission, judiciary, CID, and the transitional parliament – which keep public offices on their toes are just there and they have failed to perform their responsibilities.

The city council should ensure that the water tank companies or individual owners of the water trucks are registered and are strictly regulated. Also, they need to look into their challenges as highlighted here facing the water tanks companies and drivers. Laws need to enacted to get defaulters punished. Ultimately, the government needs to look for a permanent solution to the water problem in Juba.

Every South Sudanese lives matters.