The European Union (EU) has pumped 17 million euros (about K31.4 billion) into the four-year Chilungamo Project Phase II, which aims to help reform the country’s justice system.
Chilungamo II builds on its predecessor Chilungamo I, which run from 2016 to 2023 and received 48 million euros under the 11th European Development Fund to strengthen governance and justice delivery.
It seeks to tackle problems such as expensive legal fees, confusing processes, and corruption that stop ordinary people from getting fair treatment in courts.
Speaking in Lilongwe on Wednesday evening during the programme’s launch, EU Ambassador Rune Skinnebach said the project will focus on empowering people to demand justice, increasing their motivation to engage with institutions and ensuring effective responses from duty bearers.
He pointed out that Chilungamo II will directly be implemented by Ministry of Justice, adding that procurement processes will follow government regulations.
Said Skinnebach: “I expect Chilungamo II to support the development of relevant laws and policies, along with institutional reforms to improve justice delivery and enforcement mechanisms.”
In his remarks, Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo said the programme, among others, will also help to decongest prisons.
Mvalo disclosed that his ministry has already drafted a Bill to repeal the current Prison Act, which will be tabled in Parliament during the current session.
The minister described the EU support as both timely and strategic, saying it aligns seamlessly with the Malawi 2063 Vision goal of a governance system that upholds the rule of law.
“Effective coordination within the justice system is crucial for building a governance framework that drives socio-economic development in Malawi,” added Mvalo.
On his part, Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to collaborating with other partners, saying the programme’s success hinges on unified efforts to serve all Malawians, particularly marginalised communities.
Other implementing partners of the programme are the Malawi Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Legal Aid Bureau, Malawi Police Service and Malawi Prisons Service.
