SWAZI BUDGET TRANSPARENCY

UNCLAS MBABANE 000082 AF/S (MHARRIS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV EAID ECON WZ SUBJECT: SWAZI BUDGET TRANSPARENCY REF: STATE 28885 ¶1. (SBU) In response to reftel, Post provides the following information: --- The government of the Kingdom of Swaziland (GKOS) is receiving FY09 funded assistance. --- The GKOS does make its budget publicly available. --- Incomes and expenditures are included in the publicly available budget. --- The published budget is meaningful, however the GKOS lacks transparency making the accuracy of the budget unverifiable. King Mswati III's expenditures are not included in the budget and the government routinely submits significant supplemental budgets throughout the fiscal year. The Audit General's office is supposed to serve as an independent authority for accountability, but the availability and quality of their reports is problematic. PARKER