By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Absalom Ngwenya, the Mbabane Swallows President has confirmed that, the football team is receiving money from SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff.

Ashraff is the multibillion drugs shortage alleged thief who stands accused of looting public funds, resulting in the shortage of drugs in public hospitals, the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) was recently stopped by Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala when attempting to arrest the politically connected businessman. 

The Mbabane Swallows President released a statement on Friday confirming an investigative story published by this Swaziland News after the discovery of Ashraff’s financial transactions linking the football team.

“Consulate was approached by the Swallows Management to assist with the financing of some of the team’s operations and he duly agreed as a Swallows person and which is something he has always done in the past since the late 80s. Hence it is not a secret that the players and technical team’s salaries have been paid by one of his companies”, reads the statement in part.

Worth-noting and contrary to the press statement, Mbabane Swallows has been struggling financially after the death of Director Victor Gamedze and the Management subsequently approached Gamedze’s wife Princess Lungile and Bishop Bheki Lukhele.

The financial transactions linking Mbabane Swallows to the businessman were discovered by this investigative journalist this week in the midst of an ongoing investigation into Ashraff’s alleged corrupt dealings.

Kareem Ashraff was allegedly approached by the Mbabane Swallows Management and, convinced to fund the team in order to gain public support in the midst of corruption scandals involving the stealing of public funds allocated to purchase drugs in public hospitals.

The influencial, powerful and politically connected businessman of Indonesian origin has been avoiding to clarify these allegations when reached by this publication but, recently addressed a press and denied stealing public funds.

Dozens have died since the health crisis erupted and eSwatini law enforcement agencies are currently investigating Ashraff on allegations of corruption, tax evasion and money laundering.