Category: public-finance-management

This week like many others, I have been watching the Euro 2008. Although it has failed to provide the thrill of Euro 2000, atleast we have been served with some entertainment value from notable teams such Holland, Spain and to a less extent Portugal. Conspicously missing from the tournament is England national team who were…

When South Africans fought against the whitemans’ injustices during the apartheid era, everyone understood as the white man had imposed alot of unfair laws against our black brothers back then. The release of Nelson Mandela in the early 90s announced the new dawn of life for the people not only in South Africa but the…

I hate to think that I may be a prophet of doom. But the elections in Kenya that were marred by seens of violence and intimidation compounded by Mugabe’s Zanu PF reluctance to release results and order an unwarranted recount in 23 parliamentary seats gives me a dozen of reasons to worry. More so because…

As a Malawian I am hurt by sweeping statements such as the declaration by Thabo Mbeki that there is “No crisis in Zimbabwe.” It hurts because the economic turmoil in Zimbabwe impacts negatively on Malawi but most importantly, Zimbabweans are like a family member. Our Malawian brothers and sisters settled in Zimbabwe for economic reasons…

I commend the Judge and the councel for the prosecution in a case involving the former Education minister of Education Sam Mpasu. The judge for a well reasoned judgement and the prosecution councel for presenting a plausible and persuassive case leading to the conviction last week of the said person. However, I have problems with…

Some things dont just make sense. Northern Rock, a Nationalised financial institution in the United Kingdom has just confirmed that it paid its former Chief Executive Adam Applegarth who resigned amidst claims of taking high risk ventures, a sum of nearly £800,000 as golden handshake, £360,000 as pension top-up and he continues to enjoy cut-price…

December 20, 2007Robert Higgs Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer—except, of course, for the pigs and the dogs.—George Orwell, Animal Farm The beginning of political wisdom is the realization that despite everything you’ve always been taught, the government is not really on your side;…

On 27th October,2007A dark cloud descended upon usVillie, you breathed your lastIn the caring hands of MUM, you sleptNever to wake up again. A tower of security was taken from usYou were in the Army 5 years and 5 daysHow Ironic?You left your colleagues and family just 2 monthsafter your 29th BirthdayOn a satarday afternoon…

It’s a debate that’s of more than academic interest. Despite what the term suggests, U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles(GAAP) are really not about principle, nor about doing what is right. So says U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who in a back-to-basics speech at Georgetown University said U.S. accountants should return to putting the emphasis on…

If you get that “Monday morning feeling” on Friday night and wonder how Christmas crept up on you so quickly-afterall, wasn’t October the last time you looked? Then chances are that you are well and trully stressed. And if you notice these signs, then you can take solace in the fact that you are not…