EU Launches a Justice and Accountability Programme in Malawi
On Friday, July 13th 2018, the EU Delegation to Malawi together with the Government of Malawi launched the Chilungamo (Justice and Accountability) programme in Kasungu. The €48 million [approximately MK41 billion] Project, is one of the EU-funded programmes under the 11th European Development Fund and aims to support governance institutions in Malawi. The Chilungamo Programme builds on decades of support by the EU to the governance in Malawi. Chilungamo is a Chichewa word meaning justice, with its connotation of a sense of stewardship.
Speaking at the launch, EU Ambassador to Malawi, Marchel Gerrmann said, through the project, which is only nine months old, a number of landmarks have been made. “At the start of this programme, overcrowding in prisons was over 250 percent. I am happy to note that the programme has facilitated the release of 1,235 inmates from prisons, compared to a target of 900, through camp courts and a review and analysis of court orders,” he said.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Samuel Tembenu, highlighted the need to clarify the conception that justice favours the rich. He admitted that one of the concerns among various stakeholders is that people who commit petty crimes are sentenced to long jail terms when the matters can be ably handled outside the formal court set-up.
Chilungamo programme seeks to improve the institutional capacities and coordination mechanisms of oversight institutions; Create a fair and effective legal environment that promotes and consolidates the rule of law, equal access to justice, and respect for human rights and enhance civic education, awareness and capacity building to demand transparency and accountability.
The programme addresses two core Malawi's governance challenges of (i) lack of transparency and accountability amongst duty bearers and (ii) limited access to justice for the vulnerable groups.
Chilungamo recognizes that all of these aspects require a focus on both the supply and demand sides of governance and thus includes support to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), National Registration Bureau (NRB), Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Malawi Police Service, Judiciary and Prisons, as well as to the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE), Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), Legal Aid Bureau , civil society organizations and the media to play their oversight roles, increase access to justice, and to hold duty bearers to account.