The Deputy Governor of Central Equatoria State Manasseh Lomole. [Gurtong/ Waakhe Simon Wudu]
By Waakhe Simon Wudu
JUBA, 17 May 2012 [Gurtong] – The Deputy Governor of Central Equatoria State Manasseh Lomole has said prices of both food items and building materials have skyrocketed in recent days.
Lomole said the situation had been caused by traders who dictated prices at their own discretion.
“This has made it difficult for our common people to buy foods and hence contributing to hunger”, he said this at the 29th anniversary of the SPLA at the Dr John Garang Mausoleum in Juba.
“We are asking your intervention as the President so that there is a control on prices”, said Lomole.
He at the same time said that most businesses in the country are being controlled by foreigners, hence the haywire pricing.
The official proposed that the government lends out loans to willing South Sudanese businessmen to set up businesses as a way of increasing competition in the market to minimise the challenge.
The current oil shut down in South Sudan has immensely contributed to the high inflation rates in the infant nation that majorly depends on food imports.