By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Dr Simon Zwane,the then Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Health wrote a memorandum to the Accountant General(AG) facilitating an alleged fraudulent payment for powerful and politically connected SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff’s alternative company, AvaPharm(Pty) Ltd.

Documents in possession of this Swaziland News suggest that, Kareem Ashraff who allegedly looted more than R1billion State funds resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals,was paid the R68,610,756.31 without or before the delivery of the Antiretroviral(ARVs) drugs.

“The Ministry intends to procure Antiretroviral drugs, amounting to R68,610,756.31 from Avapharm(Pty) Ltd, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) signed by the Ministry on the 8th June 2018. To this end, the Accountant General is humbly requested to approve an upfront payment of Six Eight Million Six Hundred and Ten Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Six Emalangeni Thirty One Cents(E68,610,756.31) to AvaPharm(Pty) Ltd, to facilitate the procurement of the antiretroviral drugs”, reads the memo in part.

A questionnaire was sent to the former PS in the Ministry of Health, however, he had not responded,and efforts to reach the Accountant General proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

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.

Eswatini is facing a health crisis,senior Government officials allegedly colluded with suppliers including SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff to loot public funds, resulting to shortage of drugs and subsequent death of hundreds of patients.

Reached for comments earlier,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