Author: James Atem Kuir | Published: 41 minutes ago

Participants pose for a photo in Nzara County following a public consultation on constitution-making.
Photo credit: National Constitutional Review Commission/Facebook

The National Constitution Review Commission says citizens in Nzara County, Western Equatoria State, are calling for more local control and stronger accountability in the country’s future system of governance.

The calls were made during a public consultation held on December 3 as part of the ongoing constitutional review process. The consultation aims to gather citizens’ views to be considered in drafting the permanent constitution.

In a statement published yesterday, the commission said residents, including youth and women, overwhelmingly supported a federal system of government.

They said federalism would bring services closer to the people and improve local decision-making.

The commission also reported wide support for electing all key leaders, including the President, Governors, Commissioners, and Members of Parliament.

Most participants preferred a presidential term of “four or five years,” limited to “two terms.”

On natural resources, the consultations showed strong calls for community ownership and control of land, natural forests, and minerals.

Participants said local communities should receive a larger share of revenue from natural resources, with many recommending “between 50% and 60%.”

Citizens further stressed the need to strengthen the Bill of Rights.

They demanded the right for any citizen to own land anywhere in the country and called for the implementation of the “35% affirmative action for women” as outlined in the peace agreement.

According to the commission, the views collected in Nzara will be included among the submissions guiding the drafting of South Sudan’s permanent constitution.

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