SPLM leadership heads to grassroots constituencies
JUBA (June 27, 2012) – SPLM leaders on Wednesday began heading to grassroots constituencies to express gratitude to the people for their relentless support during the liberation struggle and throughout the implementation of the CPA, 2010 general elections and 2011 plebiscite.
Eleven teams, each led by a member of the Political Bureau, will visit all 10 states of South Sudan and Abyei and spend a minimum of one week with party members, supporters, well-wishers and South Sudanese from all walks of life in their states, counties, payams and bomas.
“We are sending these teams with very specific mission,” said Deputy Secretary General Cde Dr. Anne Itto on the eve of the leadership trip.
The main objective of the mission will be to “thank our grassroots membership and supporters for their trust and support for SPLM and congratulate them for choosing freedom.”
However, the teams will also use the opportunity to “involve SPLM state and grassroots leadership in discussion and decisions regarding nation and state building.”
They will also try to “rally support for our grassroots constituencies around SPLM policies, programs and leadership” and brief them “on the current political situation with the Khartoum government.”
Deputy Secretary General Cde Dr. Anne Itto poses for a group photo with some members of the team
The visit comes just days before the country’s first independence anniversary and only weeks ahead of the SPLM’s extraordinary National Convention.
And during the week-long trip, SPLM leaders are expected to “enlighten the people and SPLM members about the extraordinary Convention and upcoming SPLM reorganizational process.”
The Deputy Secretary General conceded that there remained a gap between the promises SPLM made to the people, especially with regard to shortcomings in delivery of basic services, but explained that these challenges would be overcome.
“We need to do more in terms of service delivery, we need to do more in terms of governance, we need to do more in terms of security for our people,” said Cde Dr. Itto, adding that more also needed to be done to improve the economic situation of the country and reduce poverty.
But the most important thing is for the people to understand that the party remains firm in its resolve to address these issues and improve the lives of ordinary South Sudanese, according to Cde Itto.
“We want to build a nation that is just, democratic, prosperous and proud. And we are going to do it,” she pointed out.
It’s worth mentioning that SPLM leaders going to the grassroots attended one-day training at party headquarters in Juba to prepare them for the mission.
Participants included members of the Political Bureau, the National Liberation Council, Members of Parliament and government ministers.
She said the teams also hoped to use the visit to “inform the grassroots communities about the current political situation” and to “listen to views, concerns and aspirations of our grassroots constituencies regarding nation and state building.”
The visit, which comes only weeks before the convening of the SPLM’s extraordinary National Convention, was scheduled to commence in the third week of June.