Official Launch of the Chilungamo Programme

The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs officially launched the Chilungamo (Justice and Accountability) Programme on Friday, July 13th, 2018, at Kasangu Community Ground in the Kasungu Municipality. Human Dynamics’ team of experts are engaged to contribute to this justice system project, which aims to create a fair and effective legal, equal access to justice, and respect for human rights.
19.07.2018

(Photo Courtesy to Delegation of the European Union to Malawi)

 

The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs officially launched the Chilungamo (Justice and Accountability) Programme on Friday, July 13th, 2018, at Kasangu Community Ground in the Kasungu Municipality. Human Dynamics’ team of experts are engaged to contribute to this justice system project, which aims to create a fair and effective legal, equal access to justice, and respect for human rights. 


Mr. Samuel Tembenu, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, members of the Judiciary’s office and Malawi’s Human Rights Commission all attended the event. Speaking at the launch, the EU Ambassador to Malawi, Marchel Gerrmann, said that throughout the project, a number of landmarks had already been made:

“At the start of this programme, overcrowding in prisons was over 250%. 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.”


On the day of the launch event, the beneficiary institutions held information clinics (kiosks) in Kasungu at the Community Ground to sensitize people on how they can access justice when in need and were there to respond to questions relating to justice issues. 


‘’For example, the Administrator General’s Department, which is under the Ministry, helped people with information on Deceased Estates, while the Legal Aid Bureau explained to people how they can access free legal representation when in need of legal services’’, said Stoyan Georgiev, who represented Human Dynamics at the event. 


After the official sessions, the six-hour launch event evolved into a huge fair with a carnival, live bands and artists. Many of the women participants received EU- and project-branded Chitenje’s – a commonly worn item of clothing by women in Malawi.