By James Innocent
The commissioner of Yei River County, Samuel Henry Malimbo, has called for greater transparency, accountability, and cooperation in the management of Yei town’s water facility.
The commissioner made the remarks on Tuesday when members of the Yei Town Water Management Committee paid a courtesy visit to his office to discuss the management and sustainability of the water system.
Malimbo commended the committee for working closely with the county administration, describing the water facility as an important county-supported project.
He said the county administration derives significant benefit from the project and stressed the need for its effective and sustainable management.
The commissioner urged the committee and other stakeholders to convene a broader stakeholders’ meeting to develop concrete measures for maintaining and sustaining the water facility.
He also emphasised the importance of transparency in the management of public resources, warning that corruption could undermine development efforts in Yei.
“There is a need to work with transparency in Yei to develop the county. Corruption is not a good thing and will not bring change to our community,” Malimbo said.
The commissioner further called on the water management company to recover and account for some of the facility’s assets, saying this would contribute to the smooth operation and continued delivery of water services to residents.
Malimbo also appealed to residents of Yei to take greater responsibility for the development of the county, saying sustainable development requires local participation and commitment.
“No one will come from outside to develop Yei for us,” he said, while urging residents and local institutions to work together to improve essential services.
The commissioner also called on staff working within the water system to continue performing their duties in accordance with the regulations of the management board and the county administration.
James Wani Banja, speaking during the meeting, called for the continued retention of technical staff within the water system, citing their experience and knowledge of the operations and management of the facility.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the water management committee, technical staff, and county administration to improve the sustainability and efficiency of water services in Yei.