By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Kareem Ashraff,the SwaziPharm Director had his bank accounts frozen amid an investigation into the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.

As a result,it is alleged that,the controversial businessman has been struggling to secure bank loans to finance a new Ministry of Health purchase order worth R5million.

“We were surprised how he even obtained this order ngoba phela siyati kutsi lomuntfu has been backlisted,his accounts were frozen”,said a senior bank official.

The bank official alleged that, Ashraff was previously boasting that,he was connected and the investigation won’t see the light of the day as most top public officials are on his pocket.

“He has a two(2) quaire exercise book with names of high profile people whom he gives money,top police officers are there.I can assure you that the money at the Ministry of Health was not stolen by the King ngulom-ndiya lona nabo-Sincendile. Tsine siyayibona lemali ngoba yendlula lakitsi,we are also able to see the cash flow after the approval of the budget.What happened is; Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg stopped the payment of Ashraff invoices without proper verification of the goods delivered. So there was a clash between Ashraff and Neal over the issue because Ashraff was submitting invoices without delivering the drugs.Ashraff wanted his ‘boy’ Mancoba to be the Minister of Finance, he even said, he would rather die if Neal Rijikernberg returns as Minister of Finance. Ok, now look at it this way, Ashraff is being investigated within the Ministry of Health and he came to the bank with a R5million purchase order. The question is; how did he obtain this purchase order while being investigated with some of his bank accounts were frozen?. The answer is simple, his ‘boy’ Mancoba Khumalo is the Chairperson of the Cabinet Select Committee tasked with investigating the Ministry of Health. I am just sharing this with you in confidence so that you conduct more investigations, it’s painful because our country is going down and people are dying in public hospitals”,said the senior bank official.

The bank official warned this journalist that the information was sensitive and highly confidential as “they are not allowed” to reveal client’s information.

Reached for comments earlier, the SwaziPharm Director who is implicated in the looting of R600million resulting to the health crisis,promised to speak to this Swaziland News after the court cases,however,he has been avoiding accountability.

“I will speak to you after the court cases”, said the SwaziPharm Director when previously asked to comment regarding the investigation and his subsequent troubles with local banks.

It is alleged that, after facing challenges with the banks, the SwaziPharm Director manipulated Cabinet for his business interests and as a result, Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo released an online statement trying to clean Ashraff by stating that, Government had no issues with the controversial businessman.

“Government wishes to state categorically clear that it never had problems with working with SwaziPharm as the supplier of drugs.Even through the difficult period of drugs shortages in Government hospitals,SwaziPharm continued as is today,to supply Government with drugs irrespective of some accumulative unpaid invoices.And as of yesterday, government honored some of the invoices with payments to the tune of 9million Emalangeni and also working on a letter of comfort to one of the company’s bankers who had reacted by putting pressure to the company as a result of the perception that government is having challenges with the company. Secondly, government wishes to put  it on record that SwaziPharm has never been a subject of investigations on its dealings with government.Finally, government takes this opportunity to express her regret at the bad publicity that might have generated as a result of the acute misinterpretation of events with regard to SwaziPharm as a business in general and as a strategic supplier of importance to government”, said the Government Spokesperson in his online statement.

Subsequent efforts to seek a comment from Government Spokesperson Apheous Nxumalo proved unsuccessful as he had not responded at the time of compiling this report, he was asked to share a comment regarding the latest developments and the implications of Mancoba Khumalo,the Chairperson of the Cabinet Select Committee tasked with addressing the health crisis.

The Spokesperson was also asked to clarify the alleged refusal by Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg to approve payment for Ashraff’s companies before verifying the delivery of goods.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Monday evening, Sivumelwano Nyembe, the Spokesperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF) said, it was surprising to note that, Ashraff who “is a subject of an investigation” on alleged corrupt dealings,continues to receive tenders.

"It is a matter of concern that he continues to be awarded tenders. It is imperative for the Swazi state to address commercial cases with the same efficiency and diligence applied to political matters.It is crucial that the justice system operates without bias or favoritism, demonstrating to the public that justice is being served impartially. Regardless of one's status, every individual has the right to their day in court and due process to address and refute allegations.Before any legal proceedings take place,it is essential to acknowledge Ashraff as a person under investigation.Treating any individual with special privileges undermines the credibility of the justice system.Therefore,it is of utmost importance that the authorities ensure transparency, uphold the principles of fairness, and avoid any perception of preferential treatment in handling such cases. The public's trust in the justice system relies on its ability to deliver justice without discrimination”, said the MSF Spokesperson,a coalition of pro-democracy groups.