Land policy is not yet understood properly by communities in South Sudan and they need enlightenment on the land laws.
Rejaf Payam Director Michael Francis made this statement after the Tokiman community and residents of Gumbo got involved in a serious issue over land distribution.He told Bakhita Radio that the communities in Rejaf Payam, including Tokiman, decided to demarcate and distribute land plots at their will without consulting the payam administration.
Mr Francis said the national Constitution, Local Government Act and Land Act stipulate that the Government is responsible for land management.
He added that communities need enlightenment on land acquisition and ownership, especially on the policy that “land belongs to community.”
Mr Francis revealed that communities are demarcating land and distributing plots that nobody is developing.
He commented that there are individuals with ten or more plots under their names.
Mr Francis said communities should demarcate a place and develop the area.
He wondered why the communities go on demarcating land without settling there or developing them.
Rejaf Payam Director concluded that in order to stop confusion and illegal sale of land, communities should adhere to the laws on land ownership and management.