Includes bibliographical references and index.

Accountable government in Africa: introduction / Danwood Chirwa & Lia Nijzink -- Post-apartheid accountability: the transformation of a political idea / Andrew Nash -- The politics of constitutional reform in Zambia: from executive dominance to public participation? / Neo Simutanyi -- Judicial independence and the judicialisation of electoral politics in Malawi and Uganda / Siri Gloppen & Fidelis Kanyongolo -- From parliamentary supremacy to judicial review: relations between parliament and the judiciary in Tanzania / Jwani Mwaikusa -- Judicial review of parliamentary actions in South Africa: a nuanced interpretation of the separation of powers / Hugh Corder -- Prosecutions, politics and the law: the way things are / Philip Stenning -- The civilianisation of prosecutorial services in Tanzania / Sifuni Mchome -- Accountable governance and the role of national human rights institutions: the experience of the Malawi human rights commission / Danwood Chirwa & Redson Kapindu -- Balancing independence and accountability: the role of Chapter 9 institutions in South Africa's constitutional democracy / Pierre De Vos -- Accountability compromised: floor crossing in Malawi and South Africa / Lia Nijzink -- Democracy within political parties: the state of affairs in East and southern Africa / Augustine Magolowondo -- Political parties in Malawi: an accountability analysis / Nandini Patel -- Family matters: the interplay between formal and informal incentives for accountability in Mali's local communities / Martin van Vliet -- Understanding local forms of accountability: initial findings from Ghana and Malawi / Diana Cammack -- External accountability meets accountability assistance: the case of legislative strengthening in Africa / Peter Burnell.