HON CHISANGANO PRAISES THE SPEAKER OF THE TRANSITIONAL NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF SOUTH SUDAN

The Hon Madam First Deputy Speaker, Mrs Malungo Chisangano, MP, has just concluded a visit to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan from 4th to 7th August, 2022. The visit was on the invitation of the Rt. Hon Speaker Mrs Jemma Nunu Kumba, MP, Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly. Hon Kumba has been Speaker of the Transnational National Assembly of South Sudan for one year since 6th August 2021. On 6th August 2022, she launched the Jemma Nunu Kumba (JNK) Foundation which will focus on uplifting the life of the women and children in South Sudan. On the eve of the celebrations of the one year anniversary, the United Nations Women in South Sudan held a discussion which was hosted by Hon Speaker Kumba to discuss the launch of the East Africa Women Speaker's Forum aimed at sharing solidarity and support among fellow women Speakers of Parliaments of Eastern Africa. Hon Kumba spoke on the need to encourage more women to take up leadership roles and challenged the men folk to continue to give women opportunities to ascend into powers of leadership.

Talking about the launch of Jemma Nunu Kumba Foundation, Hon Kumba quoted a former MP of the National Assembly of France, Victor Hugo, who once said that, "Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come." Therefore, this idea had come at an opportune time.

Hon Malungo Chisangano, First Deputy Speaker who spoke on the same occasion congratulated Hon Kumba on her role as Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the establishment of the JNK Foundation. She encouraged the Hon Speaker to be resilient and help to establish a permanent Legislature after the Transitional period.

During the celebration of the one year anniversary of Hon Speaker Kaumba's one year Anniversary and the launch of the JNK Foundation on Saturday 6th August, 2022, more than US$30,000 was raised that will be used to empower women and the girl child in South Sudan.

South Sudan became a Republic in 2011 and is preparing for General elections in 2024 that will usher in a permanent Executive, Legislature and Judiciary and see the Transitional Government, Legislature and Judiciary phased off into a Democratic Republic.

The visit by Madam First Deputy Speaker ended on Monday 8th August 2022 with a courtesy call on Madam Speaker Kumba in her office and a tour of the Parliament Buildings. The Parliaments of Zambia, Uganda, Malawi and Tanzania were invited for the visit to South Sudan. The four Legislatures are headed by Female Speakers of Parliament.