By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Kareem Ashraff,the Indonesian Consulate and SwaziPharm Director has been labelled as one of the main culprits in the looting of public funds within the Ministry of Health.

The detailed investigation report in possession of this Swaziland News and compiled by Funduzi Forensic Services, discloses transactions from Government to various companies owned by Ashraff and others,the businessman has been vigorously approaching the courts challenging the report after this publication started publishing leaked information some of which, forms part of the report.

Resiliently launched by Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg through the Office of the Auditor General Timothy Matsebula amid resistance in Cabinet and alleged corrupt suppliers including Ashraff,the report came subsequent to a resolution of the previous Parliament.

Former Ndzingeni Member of Parliament(MP) Lutfo Dlamini and current Health Minister and Siphocosini MP Mduduzi Matsebula were instrumental in supporting the investigation in Parliament and motivating other MPs to prioritize the process of finding a solution to the current health crisis as hundreds die in public hospitals.

It has been disclosed through the report that,AvaPharm(Pty) Ltd, a company with alleged links to Ashraff received over R500million through alleged corrupt means within the Ministry of Health between the year 2021 and 2023, the actual amount as reflected in the report is R523,034,228.66.

The report further states that,SwaziPharm,another company with links to Ashraff,allegedly received about R350millon within three(3) years, with the alleged actual amount being R349,670,987.12.

Other companies include TSS Medical and other various entities allegedly owned by Ashraff that tendered and competed among themselves and paid by the Ministry of Health thus creating a conflict of interest described as corruption in terms of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 2006.

But apart from allegedly using various companies to loot public funds,the report states that, Government officials within the Ministry of Health were manipulated by Kareem Ashraff and/or his companies to approve payments of non-delivered and/or over-supplied goods.

Documentary evidence sourced from the report further suggests that, on or around the 1st March 2022, Themba J. Motsa, the Assistant Director-Central Medical Stores(CMS) wrote a minute to the then Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Health Dr. Simon Zwane requesting payment for Ashraff’s AvaPharm(Pty) Ltd for alleged over-supplied drugs, the payment was subsequently approved without a purchase order.

“The Central Medical Stores(CMS) confirms that the drugs mentioned below were received from AvaPharm on two(2) occasions and the deliehry note is attached. The requisition number is 2042 and order number being prepared”, reads the document in part, that forms part of the report.

But in the same document, the Deputy Director(DD) Central Medical Stores(CMS) confirmed that, the drugs amounting to over R7million were over-supplied however, despite the alleged irregularities in the procurement process, the drugs eventually used

No evidence confirming,proving or substantiating that,indeed the over-supplied drugs were delivered by Kareem Ashraff’s company except for a highly questionable delivery note.

“These drugs were initially over-supplied,however, we eventually used them as demand for the same increased.This is therefore, to kindly request for your approval that the supplier AvaPharm is paid for the  above drugs amounting to R7,330,079.00”, reads the minute in part.

Reached for comments earlier, the SwaziPharm Director who is implicated in the looting of the public funds 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 who subsequently avoided questions from this publication.

A questionnaire was sent to Khanya Mabuza,the newly appointed Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Health, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

But the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health previously told this publication that, the report will be handed over to the law enforcement agencies for possible prosecution.

Reached for comments on Tuesday evening, Mayibongwe Masangwane,the Secretary General(SG) of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union(SWADNU)said,the corruption within the Ministry of Health resulted to patients being forced to buy their own medication.

“Even now the corruption is continuing,Government promised to deliver drugs but there’s nothing”, said the Nurses Union Secretary General.

On another note, the report also contains lists of companies alleged to have looted public funds, resulting to the death of hundreds of patients within the various public hospitals amid shortage of drugs.