By Lodu Willaim Odiya and Chol D. Johnson
The Chairperson of the Central Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce, Robert Pitia, has strongly condemned what he described as interference by Juba County authorities in the affairs of the Chamber.
Speaking during a press conference held at the Chamber’s headquarters on Tuesday, Pitia accused county officials of unlawfully replacing and appointing members of the Chamber without consultation.
“We strongly condemn the interference by the Juba County Commissioner and the Mayor of Juba City,” Pitia said.
According to Pitia, the County Commissioner relieved Siad Mohammed from his position as Chairperson of the Juba County Chamber of Commerce and appointed David Daniel Mubarak as the new chairperson.
Pitia stressed that the Chamber of Commerce is an independent private sector institution and not part of the administrative structure of Juba County.
“The Chamber of Commerce is not under the structure of Juba County. We are an independent private sector institution,” he said. “We collaborate and cooperate with the government on issues affecting the business community at the county and city council levels, but this letter of appointment is not acceptable.”
He further criticized what he described as interference by Christopher Serafino Wani in the Chamber’s internal affairs, including the removal and appointment of officials.
“We condemn any interference in the activities of the Chamber of Commerce, including relieving and appointing officials. We are not going to accept it,” Pitia stated.
Pitia emphasized that the Chamber operates under its own constitution, which outlines procedures for disciplining or removing officials.
“The Chamber has its constitution that provides how a person should be disciplined or punished,” he said. “I issued a suspension order to remove Marcelo Sokalaku, but the Mayor forced him back on us, saying he is the person he wants.”
Martin Juma Lojang, Chairperson of the Juba County Chamber of Commerce, reiterated that the Chamber is a private sector body as stipulated in its constitution.
“According to our constitution, we are a private sector institution, and we need the person who was brought in to be returned,” Lojang said.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between the Chamber’s leadership and county authorities over the autonomy of private sector institutions in Central Equatoria State.