Financial reporting and regulations in Zimbabwean and Swazi charities: Towards a practical underpinning

There has been limited research, particularly in Zimbabwe and Swaziland, on the financial reporting and regulations governing charities. This study seeks to identify the financial reporting in charities, the regulations governing these charities and analyse the regulations’ adequacy. Charities play a significant role in development, furthering social and economic objectives by increasing support to disadvantaged members of the society. There are different types of charities and new forms of charities are established on a daily basis. This study focuses on non profit making organisations involved with charity work in Zimbabwe and Swaziland. There has been no attempt to date of moves towards providing regulatory guidelines that will assist stakeholders in their decision making and in the process, enhance transparency in charities. There is therefore a need to identify how all stakeholders can understand the financial statements of charities and in the process regulate the way they report and ensure transparency in their financial reporting. The study will report findings from interviews with charitable organisations with a critical emphasis towards Zimbabwean and Swazi charities. The study argues that the charities sector has significantly grown in the two countries and in view of the increasing financial growth; the regulatory framework has to be strengthened as well. The recommendations should benefit users, and all stakeholders in the Charities organisations.