The law of neo-liberalism states that "government is a bad manager"; that business men and women were more transparent and accountable and were thus better able to manage corporate business within the framework of the private corporate sector than the state; that this business men and women should either be white or have a white backing.

The much-hyped Safaricom's initial public offer has raked in Sh191 billion in bids from local and international investors.

Safaricom has so far attracted Sh191 billion from both local and foreign investors, surpassing the Treasury's target of Sh50 billion by nearly four times and making it Sub-Saharan Africa's biggest initial public offering.

A proposed Bill that will partially open up the Tanzania Energy Supply Company (Tanesco) to private investors has divided parliament, with some members openly claiming that sections of the new Act could be a source of grand corruption.

Millions of Kenyans who applied for Safaricom shares are likely to get between 30 and 35 per cent of what they hoped for in the recently concluded initial public offering.

The increasing frequency and size of IPOs have led people to believe so much in shares that they will ignore many other opportunities that exist in the capital market - where those looking for capital for their businesses hope to meet those looking for areas to invest in.

Potential investors who have predicted a possibility of refunds in the event that the Safaricom initial public offer (IPO) is oversubscribed have been boosted by the decision by Tanzanian authorities to block their citizen's participation in the IPO sale.

Burundi is currently undergoing economic transformation following the cessation of protracted wars and being admitted to the East African Community (EAC). East African Business Week's Stephen Asiimwe met with The Second Vice-President Mr. Gabriel Ntisezirana and asked him about the way forward for the country's development plans.

The situation in government health centres and hospitals is appaling. You need to have sought services there or had your sick relative there to know the gravity of the matter. Considering the shortage of drugs and manpower, health services should be privatised.

THE hopes of millions of Nigerians for the good life will remain compromised so long as both the media and the intelligentsia consciously or unconsciously collude with government to prey on the gullibility and apparent helplessness of the masses.

Stockbrokers worked overtime throughout the weekend, sorting out the Safaricom IPO application forms into distinct batches before forwarding them to receiving banks and the offer's registrars for further processing.

After years of delays the Mali national cotton company, Malian Company for Textile Development (CMDT), is on the verge of privatisation with bids for tender just sent out, but the World Bank which backs the privatisation is worried none of the right conditions are in place to make it work.

Co-operative Bank shareholders on Friday approved plans by the bank to list at the stock market through an Initial Public Offering later in the year.

The Government has given the clearest hint of what it wants to do with Nairobi's five-star Grand Regency Hotel that has been in the news over claims that it had been sold secretly.

The Government has shown great initiative in terms of privatisation in the last few years. It has brought to the market KenGen, Kenya Re and the just concluded Safaricom flotation.

THE tender for privatisation of the Lake Katwe Salt Project is to be re-advertised after getting unsatisfactory responses last year. The Privatisation Unit's (PU) spokesman, Jim Mugunga, said they want more responses.

The cash forked out by retail investors for the Safaricom initial public offering is likely to surpass the targeted Sh17 billion.

Just hours before the region's biggest IPO closed, Kenyans -including many who lost everything in post-election violence - thronged brokerage houses to buy Safaricom shares.