New World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, wrapping up a four-nation African tour, on Saturday hailed a new leadership in Africa that was fighting corruption. Wolfowitz was speaking at a news conference standing beside South African President Thabo Mbeki, who last week fired his graft-tainted deputy Jacob Zuma. "There is new leadership in Africa that is taking responsibility, that is taking on these decisions and it is one of the reasons why I agree with what (Nigerian) President (Olusegun) Obasanjo said to me; Africa is on the move," Wolfowitz said. "I feel like it is on the move and I hope the World Bank can help it move faster." Wolfowitz said there was increasing recognition that Africa's debt load was due to corruption and bad governance. "I want to tip my hat to leaders of Africa, including particularly President Mbeki, as there is an increasing recognition that the reason we have these unpayable debts is because a lot of governments in the past did not spend money well and that is an understatement. "You know I'm talking about corruption and bad governance," he added. Mbeki sacked Zuma after his deputy's former financial adviser Schabir Shaik was convicted of corruption and fraud. The move was hailed across the continent and among international donors as a firm step in rooting out corruption. --More 2354 Local Time 2054 GMT
