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