EUROPE CALLS FOR REVIEW OF FUNDING TO ZAMBIA CITES MUTOTWE KAFWAYA’S KILLING

EUROPE CALLS FOR REVIEW OF FUNDING TO ZAMBIA CITES MUTOTWE KAFWAYA’S KILLING By John TemboEuropean Parliament through Marit Maij, has called for the European Union to review its funding priorities for Zambia, citing concerns over political violence, attacks on democracy and pressure on civil society and the media. Maij said the killing of Hon. Mutotwe […]

EUROPE CALLS FOR REVIEW OF FUNDING TO ZAMBIA CITES MUTOTWE KAFWAYA’S KILLING

By John Tembo
European Parliament through Marit Maij, has called for the European Union to review its funding priorities for Zambia, citing concerns over political violence, attacks on democracy and pressure on civil society and the media.

Maij said the killing of Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya should not be viewed as an isolated incident, but as part of what she described as a wider crackdown on political opposition, civil society and the press.

“The EU Member States and our OACPS partners must address the rise of election violence and attacks on democracy,” Maij said.

She called for greater support for civil society organisations, human rights defenders and journalists, arguing that EU development funding should place greater emphasis on social dialogue and institution-building.

Maij added that EU partnerships with countries such as Zambia should go beyond infrastructure projects, economic incentives and sanctions to also strengthen democratic institutions and civic participation.

“The killing of Mutotwe Kafwaya is not isolated. It is part of a wider crackdown that we see on political opposition, civil society and the press.

“The EU Member States and our OACPS partners must address the rise of election violence and attacks on democracy.”

“We must support civil society organisations, human rights defenders and journalists.
EU funding for development must therefore recentre social dialogue and institution building.”

“Sustainable development also means working towards peace, justice and building strong institutions”

“Our partnerships cannot be reduced to infrastructure projects, economic incentives or just sanctions.”