SOUTHERN AFRICA: Zimbabwe complains about UN report

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

JOHANNESBURG, 14 Oct 2004 (IRIN) - The Zimbabwean government has complained about a UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) report criticising its electoral system.

The official daily newspaper, The Herald, reported minister of state for information and publicity, Jonathan Moyo, as saying that the Zimbabwean government had not been afforded the opportunity to respond to some of the issues raised in the report prior to its release.

The report, 'Striving for Good Governance in Africa', compiled by the ECA and released this week, assesses shortcomings in institutions and human capacity in 28 countries covering 72 percent of the continent's population. The report also contains public opinion on governance in their countries.

Election results in many Southern African countries were accepted as "credible", but remained "fairly controversial" in Zimbabwe. Voter registration was "conducted easily in South Africa, Mauritius, Namibia and Botswana, and less so in Zimbabwe," said the ECA.

The report also named Zimbabwe, along with Malawi and Swaziland, as being among the only Southern African countries where expert respondents had "doubts" about the government's commitment to "respect and implement the rule of law".

In terms of social services delivery, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Mauritius ranked high in the provision of education, sanitation, water supply and health care.

The ECA said many African countries were committed to fostering macroeconomic stability, and singled out Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia and South Africa.

Botswana was also highlighted as one of the "few countries" where the anticorruption agency complements the work of core state institutions, which themselves work effectively.

Although investment and growth in the business sector were vital to eradicating unemployment and poverty reduction, the report noted: "Still, doing business in Africa can be a chore."

In Angola it takes 14 procedures and 146 days to start a business, and 47 procedures and 1,011 days to enforce a contract; Mozambique also takes a long time to enforce a contract - 540 days and 153 days to start a business - compared to 38 days in South Africa.

The ECA recommended 10 key areas to build the capacity and accountability of state institutions for good governance. These include strengthening parliaments, deepening legal and judicial reforms to protect property rights, improving public sector management, improving delivery of public services, removing bottlenecks to private enterprise, fostering responsible media, and attacking AIDS to end its effects on governance and all development.

For more details on the report visit: www.uneca.org

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