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by Ali Osman
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Somali Universal Television News showed Mogadishu Mayor visiting a camp housing the disabled war veterans of the former Somali Defense Forces. The veterans, weeks ago said the current government did not care about their blight. I believe his visit was in response to that complaint.
What was disturbing about the story was the Mayor told the disabled veterans: “The food is UN food and we purchased from the street”. He added the label says “NOT FOR SALE”. I am sure the Mayor was not happy with the fact United Nations humanitarian food destined for the needy was sold and distributed in the markets of Mogadishu.
What was even more bizarre was the Mayor was buying the stolen UN food from the streets of Mogadishu, the city he suppose to make sure runs without corruption. So what we have is a Mayor who failed to secure the food from falling in the wrong hands in the first place and subsequently failed to prosecute those who are vending the stolen goods. He shamelessly buys with government money to redistribute back to the needy.
Correct me if I am wrong, my first question is why he could not buy merchants selling legal food and seek action against those selling and distributing the UN food? My second question to the Mayor is why are you assisting merchants selling stolen UN food by procuring the goods from them?
Mr. Mayor, the responsibility stops at your desk when it comes to running the city of Mogadishu? If food destined for the displaced Mogadishu residents fell into the wrong hands, whose responsibility is that? I am sure as the Mayor you have the responsibility in making sure corruption is not committed in your city. Who is providing the logistics and distribution of the UN food? If food is stolen in your city’s jurisdiction, it is you who should pursue the perpetrators and not the United Nations. If the food is sold to commercial entities before it reached Somalia, I believe you also have the responsibility in letting the World know in blowing the whistle.
My suspicion is, the UN delivers the food to Mogadishu and from there it is stolen and sold. If this is the case, as the Mayor you got to do something about it. If you cannot do something about it, I believe the honorable thing for you to do is resign your position as a Mayor of Mogadishu and let someone else who is capable run the affairs of Mogadishu.
Mr. Mayor we know you are the mayor but we want to know how are you going to tackle this corruption and what you intend to do about the corruption plaguing your city ?
Ali Osman
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