- Five EU Member States Diplomats says are Impressed with Projects in Malawi
- The Ambassadors visited several projects before meeting CSOs, Private Sector and Legislatures
The European Union (EU) Diplomats says EU is making positive impact to lives of Malawians through its funded projects being implemented in some parts of the country.
Five EU Member States Diplomats were in Malawi to assess its development projects including appreciate political situation and meet government officials, members of parliament, private sector and civil society.
After four day visits to EU projects sites, five senior resident and non-resident EU Member States Ambassadors of Finland, Italy, Spain, Ireland and Belgium have all expressed satisfaction of how EU projects are positively playing a key role in Malawi communities.
At a press conference in the capital, Lilongwe, Head of EU delegation to the Republic of Malawi, Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann said the visit was very important for member states and ambassadors from five countries whom he described as ‘shareholders of EU’ to see firsthand and share quite a number of good results of EU projects in Malawi.
“They need to be convinced of what we are doing is a right thing, that we are really helping alleviate poverty of Malawians and support the government in doing that” said ambassador Gerrmann
Finland Ambassador to Lusaka, Timo Olkkonen also accredited to Malawi and Zimbabwe says the EU money in Malawi is being channeled for the good use after observing that every project being implemented is bringing positive impact among lives of Malawians.
“What we have seen here is that the EU money in my opinion is targeted to the right sectors and strategically important sectors like agriculture, forestry, human rights and democratic processes” said ambassador Olkkonen whose remark were echoed by Italian ambassador to Lusaka, Pier Mario Darco.
“What we saw on the activities taking place in Malawi, am quite confident also that we are reaching results with that funding. So, at least for me this was a very positive experience and in the sense that the European tax payers money are put in the good use”
But the Finish Ambassador has pointed out rapid population growth as one critical issue that Malawi has to address a point which Spain Acting Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Komena Tarmori agrees and also mentioned that the government is ready to support Malawi in several investments areas.
On her part, the Irish Ambassador to Malawi, Ms. Aine Hearns said the field visits to the EU projects has been enlightening moment and was happy to note that the annual 500 km rural road rehabilitation projects are economically empowering communities in transportation of their farm produce to markets as well as assisting women to easily access to hospitals since the roads are passable by ambulances.
And the Belgium ambassador to Dar Es Salaam, Koen Adam who also said he is impressed with development projects in Malawi, promised that Belgium is committed to continue assisting Malawi in agriculture.
The delegation has further expressed satisfaction in projects on civic education, Agriculture Sector Wide Approach project which is supporting in food security, rehabilitation of Kanengo grain silo upgrade a project which with EU intervention the ambassadors says there is much more efficient usage of the storage of grain, and on sustainable management of forests.
The delegation also hails Malawi civil society organizations for being active and in good terms with government.
