Swaziland scored a mere three points out of 100 in a
global review of its budget transparency.
The kingdom ruled by King Mswati III as sub-Saharan
Africa’s last absolute monarch received zero points in a section on public
participation as there were no opportunities for the public to engage in budget
processes.
The scores are revealed in the 2017 Transparency
Open Budget Survey produced by the International Budget Partnership (IBP).
While Swaziland scored three points, neighbouring South
Africa scored 89.
In an 80-page report IBP revealed that the Swaziland legislature
provides weak oversight of the budget. In Swaziland political parties are banned
from taking part in elections and the Prime Minister, Cabinet and top judges
and public servants are all chosen by the King.
IBP said the Swazi parliament was unable to discuss
the budget properly because it was not provided with sufficient information. It
said the government’s budget proposal should be available two months before the
start of the budget year.
The IBP collaborates with
civil society around the world to use budget analysis and advocacy as a
tool to improve effective governance and reduce poverty.
This is not the first time that budget transparency in
Swaziland has been criticised. The United States State Department in its annual
Fiscal Transparency Report regularly points out the kingdom’s deficiencies. In its
2017 report it said, ‘Swaziland’s fiscal transparency would be improved by:
providing more detail on expenditures and revenues in the budget, particularly
for off-budget accounts, natural resource revenues, and royal family expenditures;
subjecting the entire budget to audit and oversight; demonstrating applicable
laws are followed in practice for awarding natural resource extraction
contracts and licenses; and making basic information on natural resource
extraction awards publicly available.’
See also
GOVT
BREAKS OWN LAW ON SPENDING
SWAZILAND:
MASSIVE SECURITY SPENDING
SWAZI
MPs REJECT NATIONAL BUDGET
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