The European Union (EU) Delegation to Malawi has donated equipment worth 287 000 euro (about K602 million) used by the EU Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) to selected local non-profit organisations.
Making the handover in Lilongwe yesterday, EU Ambassador Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi said the items were left in the country by the observation team after a successful mission during the September 16 General Election.
Gaztelumendi. | Jacob Nankhonya
He said they donated the items, which include laptop computers, printers, smartphones, field equipment and furniture, to help the beneficiary organisations in achieving their objectives.
“Each of these organisations contributes in its own way to the shared goals of inclusivity, human dignity and community resilience; the values that the EU stands for and that lie at the heart of our partnership with Malawi,” said Gaztelumendi.
Beneficiary organisations are Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance, Media Council of Malawi, Emerge Livelihoods, Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (Apam), There is Hope Malawi, Malawi Children’s Village, YouthNet and Counselling and Focus Malawi.
In a vote of thanks, Apam executive director Young Muhamba commended the EU for the gesture, saying the support will ease the organisation’s challenges.
“This donation will surely improve things in our organisation because, just to mention one thing, our furniture was in a real sorry state, but that is now a thing of the past,” he said.
The EU-EOM team was in the country from August 2 during which it assessed the conduct of the elections, including election administration, the use of election technology, the campaign environment, the media and political landscape, the polling, counting and tabulation of the vote in line with regional and international standards applicable to the conduct of elections.
The mission obser ved the September 16 General Election nationwide with the aim of supporting an inclusive, credible, and transparent election process.
