By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE: The contents of the highly anticipated investigation report into the shortage of drugs in public hospitals won’t be shared to the public for now as it is being analyzed by the police and office of the Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP), Alpheous Nxumalo, the Government Spokesperson disclosed through a press statement released on Thursday afternoon.

The statement comes after Kareem Ashraff, the Director of SwaziPharm Wholesalers wrote a letter to the Auditor General(AG) Timothy Matsebula, the then Prime Minister(PM) Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, Attorney General(AG) Sifiso Khumalo, the then Health Minister Lizzie Nkosi and Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg, demanding the investigation report.

“Government has noted the huge public interest on the matter of the forensic audit investigation report on the medicinal drugs shortage in the country.Government is also aware of the concerns expressed by some members of the public and the media regarding the release of the report and its findings to the public.On that note, Government wishes to state that: The forensic investigation report by Funduzi Forensic Services was submitted to the Office of the Auditor General. The next step for the Auditor General is to distribute this report to the relevant stakeholders, which in this case include the Royal Eswatini Police Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Civil Service Commission,Cabinet and Parliament.The contents of the report cannot,therefore,be shared with the public at this point”, reads the statement in part.

Worth-noting, in the Government press statement Kareem Ashraff is not mentioned as one of the stakeholders who might receive the report

as per his demand.

This publication reported that Kareem Ashraff, the Director of SwaziPharm stands accused of looting millions of public funds within the Ministry of Health, he allegedly colluded with Sincedile Dlamini, the suspended Chief Procurement Officer, Deputy Director Pharmaceuticals Fortunate Bhembe among others to manipulate the tendering and procurement process.