Juba is the capital city of South Sudan and should reflect the dignity, identity and aspirations of its people. However, building a clean, modern, safe and organised city requires more than government efforts. Every resident must take responsibility.
It is time for citizens to change their attitudes and become active participants in transforming the city. We cannot continue demanding better services while neglecting our own responsibilities towards the communities in which we live.
Keeping Juba clean should begin with individuals, households, businesses and institutions. Residents must stop dumping rubbish along roads, drainage channels and public spaces.
Business owners should maintain clean surroundings, while landlords must ensure proper sanitation within their properties.
Modernising the city is not solely the responsibility of authorities. Citizens must respect public infrastructure, protect roads, avoid illegal structures and cooperate with urban development regulations.
Equally important is the fight against crime. Community members should take responsibility for protecting their neighbourhoods by reporting suspicious activities, theft, robbery and other criminal incidents to the appropriate authorities.
Silence and the protection of criminals only make communities more vulnerable. However, reporting must be based on credible information, and nobody should take the law into their own hands.
Peaceful coexistence is another responsibility that every resident must embrace. Juba is home to people from different communities, cultures and backgrounds. Respect, tolerance and mutual understanding must guide our daily interactions.
We must reject tribal divisions, unnecessary conflicts and personal revenge. Instead, communities should promote dialogue, cooperation and peaceful ways of resolving disagreements.
Government authorities also have a responsibility to provide essential services, enforce laws fairly, improve sanitation and maintain public infrastructure. Citizens, in turn, must cooperate with these efforts and hold institutions accountable.
Juba cannot become a modern city if its residents remain careless about cleanliness, security and public property.