By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff R1.8million medical supplies donation will expire in April 2024 and as a result,it has been removed from the Central Medical Stores.

The donation that allegedly include drugs was announced by the businessman this week,who stands accused of looting over R600million from the Ministry of Health, resulting to the ongoing health crisis.

“Use this donation to save the lives of emaSwati in hospitals”,said the SwaziPharm Director when handing over the R1.8million donation.

But it later transpired that the medical supplies were due to expire in the next two(2) months and dangerous to patients.

“Some of the drugs will expire in May 2024 and the drugs that expire in April were rejected”, said an insider.

The donation was loaded in a truck at the Central Medical Stores(CMS) on Wednesday morning back to SwaziPharm, a few medication that expire in May 2024 was allegedly left behind.

Efforts to reach Khanya Mabuza,the Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Health proved unsuccessful as his cellphone rang unanswered.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, Sivumelwano Nyembe, the Spokesperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF) described the donation by SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraf as medical dumping.

“It’s unfortunate when the donation is made by a person with a corruption case to answer, a case of such magnitude.It’s of magnitude because it resulted to the death of citizens, that person was supposed to wait and clear his name by following the due process”, said the MSF Spokesperson.

A questionnaire was sent to  SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff, however,he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

On another note, Cabinet through the Commerce Minister Mancoba Khumalo, the Chairman of the Standing Committee tasked with addressing the health crisis had promised delivery of drugs in January 2024, however, the drugs were not delivered and hundreds of emaSwati are dying in public hospitals amid shortage of medication.