(November 16, 2003) The World Bank’s refusal to help fund a Canadian company’s controversial development of a huge open pit gold mine in Romania has raised concerns the Canadian government will step in with money.
Robin O’Hood lives tax free
(November 14, 2003) I have no wish to make an argumentum ad Eminem against Bono, who is due to speak on Third World development at this evening’s coronation of Paul Martin. There is no reason why the lead singer of Irish rock group U2 should not, at least in theory, present viable ideas on the topic. We should have no more a priori skepticism about his analysis than about the expectation that, say, Milton Friedman might be a dab hand with a Stratocaster. If anybody were to attack Bono, it should be on the basis of his ideas. So here goes. But first a few personal details.
South African Export Credit
(November 13, 2003) Business Day reports that Saddam Hussein owed 159.4 million rand ($24m) to the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South African Limited, according to the Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel.
Human rights supersede profit
(November 11, 2003) It was arguably economic pressure brought by sanctions that eventually brought down the racist apartheid system; but by the same token, it was economic support from the outside including loans from multinational banks which kept the system going.
Leading company implicated in Lesotho bribery case
(November 11, 2003) French-based Schneider calls itself one of the world’s leading manufacturers of equipment for electrical distribution, industrial control and automation. It boasts operations in 130 countries.
Odious rulers, odious debts
(November 1, 2003) America must commit itself to something in return for international cooperation in the reconstruction of Iraq: the establishment of a framework for addressing debt relief, debt restructuring, and odious debts.
High crimes in Lesotho: transnational criminals (Part 3)
(November 1, 2003) In principle, First World development banks and export credit agencies could curb corrupt behaviour by transnational companies in developing countries but apparently don’t want to offend their First World constituents by doing so.
When sovereign debt piles up, try a good workout
(October 28, 2003) Many "poor countries" spend heavily on weapons. A Congressional Research Service report shows that developing nations are the biggest market for arms. Will there be more workouts after Iraq and Argentina? Take a guess.
Kenya’s long slide into mass graft
(October 25, 2003) It was an innocuous enough note, pinned to the door of Lady Justice Sarah Ondeyo’s courtroom at the Milimani Commercial Courts in Nairobi.
Kenya: corruption scandal
(October 1, 2003) Revelations from the Goldenberg Commission investigation left Kenyans – a majority of whom live on less than a dollar per day – reeling at the news of how much money the country lost to fraudsters.
Corruption bill ready next sitting
(September 18, 2003) Attorney General Peter Fachi Thursday said that a bill to amend the Corrupt Practices Act would be tabled during the next sitting of Parliament, but pointed out not all the recommendations will be taken on board.
South African sentenced for water project bribery
(September 18, 2003) A South African who pleaded guilty to acting as an intermediary in bribery payments to the former head of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, has been sentenced to a fine of R500,000 or five years in prison.
Corruptions Perception Index – Kenya to perform poorly
(September 15, 2003) As in other African countries, corruption in Kenya has been inextricably intertwined with the nature of the modern African state that is driven by patronage and derives its legitimacy from an ability to create and dispense patronage.
Another watershed for Acres
(September 15, 2003) Updating the Lesotho Highlands water project bribery scandal.
Prosecuting bribery in Lesotho
(September 5, 2003) "Lesotho is committed to completing these prosecutions, primarily in order to eradicate corruption in Lesotho. But also to set an example for other countries." – L. F. Maema, KC, the Attorney General of Lesotho.
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