accountability

The Department of Home Affairs in Zambia has disclosed that more than eight Zambian NGOs are under investigation for alleged money laundering and other illegal activities.

Minister Lameck Mangani says the government, through the registrar of societies is also scrutinising some NGOs that have drifted from the mandate for which they were established.

A report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) lists more than 200 individuals it accuses of facilitating that country’ post-election violence in 2007.

Amongst those listed as having either incited, mobilised, transported or funded gangs to attack rival communities are seven Cabinet ministers, several members of parliament and councillors, political activists, retired military officers and even church leaders.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to restore Zimbabwe's voting rights after a seven-year suspension over failure to pay US$1.3 billion it owes the organisation and other creditors.

The decision by the IMF's executive board constitutes a first step toward endorsement of the economic policies of the coalition government formed a little more than a year ago by President Robert Mugabe and long-time rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, has announced that South Africa will spend extra R112 billion in the next three years to tackle poverty, boost job creation and fight HIV/AIDS.

Speaking during his first budget speech since being appointed by President Jacob Zuma nine months ago, Gordhan points out that, "Of these amounts, over half go to provinces and municipalities for education, health, municipal infrastructure and human settlements, reflecting our commitment to sustaining growth in spending on our key priorities."

The World Bank president has voiced his satisfaction at the actions taken by African governments to deal with the global economic crisis.

Ending an eight-day, three-nation trip to Africa, which took him to Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire and Ethiopia, Robert Bruce Zoellick says that, "I leave African impressed by the actions many governments have taken to cope with the global economic crisis.

The financial management of municipalities in Gauteng is steadily improving, according to the MEC for local government, Kgaogelo Lekgoro.

Lekgoro says 11 out of 14 municipalities in Gauteng have received unqualified audit opinions, marking an improvement from the previous financial year when there were only eight.

"When the finances of municipalities are spent and managed properly it restores confidence in the leadership of government and it strengthens the provision of services to communities," explains Lekgoro.

The release of the King 3 report on corporate governance in 2009 and its imminent application have invigorated debate on corporate governance and social responsibility. Although this is a positive step, there is a need to orientate the debate towards the responsibilities of the nonprofit sector in a more meaningful way.

Senior government officials have defrauded the KwaZulu-Natal department of social development of more than R40 million, according to a forensic investigation.

MEC for finance, Ina Cronje, and of social development, Meshack Radebe, says the culprits have pocketed large sums of money for ‘projects, some of which never existed’.

At least 179 people in Durban, Pietermaritzburg, the Midlands and Ulundi would face criminal and civil charges.

The United States has suspended a five-year US$7 million programme for Kenya's education ministry over a massive corruption scandal.

Washington's ambassador, Michael Ranneberger, who points out that the programme was scheduled to begin this year, says that the suspension will be effective until there is a credible, independent audit and full accountability.

"Those culpable for the fraud should not merely be sacked; they should be prosecuted and put behind bars," says Ranneberger.