South Sudan: MPs to enjoy subsidised meals as restaurant opens

(radiotamazuj.org)

South Sudan MPs will now start enjoying subsidised meals with the opening of a restaurant in Parliament.

Speaking during the opening of a new restaurant in Parliament premises on Thursday, Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba revealed that the new restaurant would provide catering services at subsidized prices as it will not pay rent, electricity and water.

“The food is a bit subsidized. A plate of food here will not cost the same as the market because the building is ours, they are not paying rent, and for that, the food will be slightly cheaper, so this is our contribution as the administration to the MPs,” she said.

Speaker Nunu further said the new restaurant will allow the lawmakers access to good food in a conducive environment compared to when they used to eat under trees. 

“Our situation regarding a decent place where MPs can take tea and talk politics was not befitting for the honourable members. It is for this reason that we thought it was important to take care and give dignity to our honourable members so that when their colleagues visit them from the other regions or even their friends, they can have tea with them under a roof,” she said

Nunu pointed out that the cafeteria has been outsourced to a private, professional catering firm to manage the restaurant and provide lawmakers with food and beverages.

The Speaker, however, did not give more details about the ownership of the catering company and the bidding process followed by the management of Parliament.

For her part, Rebecca Joshua Okwachi, Chief Whip of the SPLM Partly, said: “Though our condition was different before and today, to have this building here will cater for our health in terms of what we eat and also the health of the members, this is a very good achievement and let us make use of that restaurant.”

She added, “This will give us a chance once we move to our new hall. People will get a chance to sneak out. We suffered a lot. People with diabetes, ulcers, and high blood pressure have suffered, but I always appreciate your patience and perseverance for continuing to struggle for our country.”