Raised fees for development in North Kordofan contested

North Kordofan state has imposed an additional fee on the profits of business and shop owners, to contribute to the state's development programme. The move is met with indignation by residents.

On Thursday State Governor Ahmed Haroun ordered all business and shop owners to donate the profit of a day of their businesses to the state development programme.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, a merchant in El Obeid said that earlier development programmes in North Kordofan have failed. “Because there is no tangible development in the state as people cannot get access to clean drinking water, suffer from a decline of therapeutic services, and this along with a lack of paved roads.”

Haroun recently imposed a monthly salary deduction of SDG150 ($25) per household in North Kordofan, in addition a fee ranging from SDG3-10 ($0.50-1.65) for each basic and secondary school student.

The merchant complained that the state government has spent the collected money on things that do not represent the priorities of the people of the state. “Money is spent on building El Obeid's international stadium, while people need clean drinking water and a quality hospital.”

Lawyer Osman Hassan Saleh told Radio Dabanga that the fees and levies have not been reflected in any improvement in services. There remain ongoing problems with drinking water supply and the establishment of the hospital is at a standstill, he said in an interview earlier this month.

Drinking water

The residents of El Matama in the River Nile have complained of the contamination of drinking water. The water's colour now changed and has an unpleasant odour.

A listener called via Radio Dabanga on the state authorities to immediately intervene and resolve the drinking water problem.