THE European Union Election Observer Mission (EU_EOM) says it is impressed with the peaceful and orderly manner in which the August 12 general election were carried out.
EU Ambassador to Zambia Jacek Jankowski said the EU Chief Observer Maria Arena was now drafting a set of recommendations on how to improve future elections in Zambia.
Mr. Jankowski said Ms. Arena would be back in Lusaka in a few weeks to present her recommendations to the Government, electoral stakeholders and the public at large.
He said this yesterday when the mission donated equipment which included laptops, mobile phones, medical and office equipment and stationary worth over Euros 250.000 (K 4.772.763) to 12 charitable organizations as a way of winding up its operations in readiness to leave the country for Europe.
The EU-EOM while in Zambia for about two months observed and accessed the electoral process leading to the polls and was now winding up its operations in readiness to leave the country.
“Zambia’s vibrant civil society played a crucial role in protecting people and in strengthening democracy. W e clearly saw this in the recent elections. All the EU observers were impressed with the huge voter turnout on Election Day. We are also truly impressed by the peaceful and orderly manner in which elocutions took place,” Ms. Jankowski said.
He assured that the EU will continue to work with the new Government and the Zambian people and add onto the solid foundation already achieved in EU Zambia relations based on their shared values of democracy, respect for humanity and the rule of law.
The beneficiaries include St. Luke Missionary Hospital in Mpanshya, Zambia Red Cross Society, Jedidiah Learning Steps Limited from Lusaka’s Makeni area, St Lawrence Home of Hope, a centre for street boys and Vision of Hope, a centre for street girls.
Others include In and Out of the Ghetto, a society that supports and shelters street children, the Missionary Group of Solidarity –We for Zambia, the Sisabelo Saka Inclusive School for visually impaired children, the Cheshire Homes Society of Zambia, Enlighten Abilities, which offers activities, therapy and rehabilitation for children with disabilities, Young Women Christian Association and LADA, which provided legal aid for women.
And founder Jedidiah Learning Steps Limited, Mary Mwale thanked the EU-EOM for the donation, saying that it would go to enhance operations of the organisation which was established in 2007.
