By Obiala Angel – Torit
Members of Parliament representing Magwi County in Eastern Equatoria State are calling for the evacuation of cattle from their territory to their original home land.
MP Otim Carlo Peter, who represents Magwi County in the State Parliament Constituency Number 27, asks the herders to return to their areas peacefully to give chance for returnees coming home, Radio Emmanuel reported.
He mentions that farmers cannot stay in the same area with pastoralists that will result in serious destruction of crops.
“Most of these things are happening in my constituency, I have history, on 25 November 2019 I raised this motion about the cattle, this is not a new thing, I don’t know why they are only interested in Magwi County, because there are other areas that they can go to, but they just want to stay in Magwi County just to disorganized all the communities. We are farmers, pastoralist do not stay with farmers, we survive on agriculture and they survive on cattle, so this two cannot go together, so the only thing that I can call, let them go to their area of origin peaceful so that our returnees can come back, if there is no decision taken on the presidential decree our people will continue to surfer but because we don’t want our people to because we need them to go away, this is a message which is loud and clear”, the MP clarifies.
MP Angela Achiro Onorio, representing Magwi women at the Parliament, mentions that cattle keepers not only destroy farms production, but have also disrupted the education of the children in the county.
“The cattle herders has not only interrupted the lively hood of the people of Magwi county at the same time they interrupted the learning of our children in Magwi county, this is a violation of child right to education, and we are calling the Government to ensure the protection to people of Magwi County because right now they are living in fear, they are terrorized, their properties and food in the garden is destroyed, so we are calling on humanitarian agencies to urgently provide assistance to the displaced population, shelter because rain is coming and these people are under the trees in the headquarters of Magwi County. We call upon the humanitarian workers urgently to assist this population, as we know there will be outbreak of cholera with the onset of rain”, she appeals.
The Magwi County women representative at the August House is in dismay why the cattle herders are seen wearing military uniforms threatening lives of people.
“In Panyikwara and Goloba, the cattle herders are moving with guns among the community of Panyikwara and Goloba of which is terrorising the people of Magwi County and I wandering where are the cattle herders get the uniforms and guns in their hands? We are wandering”, she questions.
Another MP from Magwi Dr. Margaret Itoo Leonardo, says the recent influx of cattle started from Opari area and has currently scattered in many areas in the western part of the state causing conflict in the county.
“The cattle are not only in Agoro and Nyola, but the cattle are also in Madi corridor, the recent influx actually is all over, even a lot of it was in Opari where the governor visited, so that is likely to cause the same insecurity like that in Agoro”, she predicts.
The Members of Parliament made their statements at the Eastern Equatoria State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.