Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore has appointed a senior local government officer, Mustafa Albino Zacharia, as the new mayor of Torit Municipal Council.

On 9 August, Governor Lobong relieved Joseph Oswaha Ayee as the mayor of Torit without naming a replacement.

“I, Louis Lobong Lojore, Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, do hereby issue this gubernatorial decree for the appointment of Cde. Mustafa Albino Zacharia, as mayor of Torit Municipal Council, Eastern Equatoria State with effect from 9 September 2022,” the decree read.

The new mayor welcomed his appointment, saying it was his dream to keep Torit town clean and secure.

“I am very happy about this appointment and pledge to work very hard to maintain a good image of Torit town and the areas in my jurisdiction,” he vowed. “I will maintain a clean town and ensure security and development. I will also repair and maintain the internal roads in the town which are dilapidated.”

“I want to ask the people of Torit to stand with and cooperate with me and the state government and also live in peace,” Mayor Albino added.

Meanwhile, Torit resident Becky Roja Karlos tasked the new mayor to prioritize the mitigation of alarmingly soaring commodity prices.

“The high prices of commodities in the market are not good and we need the new mayor to work at reducing the prices in our Torit and our State,” she said. “We are suffering due to high commodity prices and very many people cannot afford basic items and yet government salaries are too low.”

Another Torit dweller, Olara John Baptist, a civil society activist, said he was happy with the appointment and hoped the new mayor would address the welfare of Torit citizens.

“We are very happy with the appointment of the new mayor. Concerning the wellbeing of the people, we expect peace and for the wellbeing of citizens,” he said. “We need the people to live in peace and not fight along tribal lines. We need the municipality to develop.”