The Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) in Wau has condemned efforts by the state government to block media houses from coverage of the state assembly’s decision to vote out the finance minister late last month.

UJOSS Western Bahr El Ghazal branch secretary James Deng Dimo said journalists need freedom of expression. He called on the state government to allow all media houses to broadcast stories without censorship.

As reported by Voice of Hope in Wau, Deng contended that it was not the right of state information minister to block journalists from broadcasting stories. The branch secretary urged the state government to ensure that journalists are not subjected to any obstacles.

The state assembly summoned the information minister to answer why the government radio station did not broadcast the parliament’s decision of voting out the finance minister, Lillian Valentino Rizik, according to local FM station.

Governor rejects vote on finance minister

Rizik Zachariah Hassan, the state governor, has rejected the legislature’s decision. He said on Friday that she will continue with her normal duties in spite of the vote by the assembly impeaching her.

Governor Zachariah said the differences between the executive and the legislature should be resolved ‘administratively’. He called for a dialogue between the executive and the legislature to realize peace and development in the state.

The governor has been backed up by the National Cabinet Secretary Martin Elia Lomuro, who said in remarks reported by the Catholic Radio Network that the state assembly should follow the right procedure to vote out the minister.

He said the finance minister did not implement the 2013 budget and the legislature did not follow the right procedure of impeachment her, calling both parties ‘mistaken’ and urging them to sit and discuss their differences in a peaceful manner.

Photo: SSTV/R premises in Wau, Western Bahr al Ghazal (Gurtong)