MBABANE:Sipho Mthethwa,the Chief Investigator of the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) who stands accused of taking bribes, is now investigating Auditor General(AG) Timothy Matsebula who launched the investigation into the looting of billions of taxpayers monies within the Ministry of Health.
The multibillion looting resulted to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals and the AG,launched the investigation with the support of Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg who was mandated by Parliament,hundreds have died since the health crisis erupted.
It has been disclosed that,Mtsetfwa an alleged ally of SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff has been ordered by the powerful and politically connected corrupt syndicate to investigate and arrest the Auditor General(AG).
As a result, on Tuesday, the ACC Chief Investigator allegedly summoned Thulani Mabuza into the Anti Corruption offices in Mbabane where he was questioned about how Funduzi Forensic Services was registered in the country.
Mabuza is a former Director of the forensic company that exposed the corruption and/or the disappearance of billions of public funds within the Ministry of Health.
The ACC is allegedly trying to gather information linking AG Timothy Matsebula to the forensic company after Zinhle Matsebula, the multimillion drugs shortage alleged thief who is also implicated in the forensic report,threatened the Auditor General(AG) with arrest.
Businesswoman Zinhle Matsebula is allegedly connected to Prime Minister(PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini, his alleged brother Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula and SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff who is alleged to have worked with her under Lifespan Pharmaceuticals.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
But during the questioning,insiders told this publication that,Mtsetfwa allegedly told Mabuza, a former Director of Funduzi Forensic Services to be calm and respond to questions adding that, as the ACC, they “are targeting Auditor General(AG) Timothy Matsebula, seeking to establish his links with the forensic company”.
The threats to arrest the Auditor General(AG) was systematically revealed by businesswoman Zinhle Matsebula, who was allegedly working with SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff, suspended Ministry of Health Chief Procurement Officer Sincendile Dlamini and Director Pharmaceuticals Fortunate Bhembe,in the alleged multibillion looting of public funds.
Zinhle Matsebula denied looting public funds when reached for comments earlier by this publication while Chief Procurement Officer Sincendile Dlamini said, she was under suspension and therefore, she “is not in a position to comment”.
Efforts to reach Fortunate Bhembe, the Director Pharmaceuticals proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
But the powerful and politically connected alleged corrupt syndicate targeting the AG is allegedly linked to Prime Minister(PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini who also threatened the AG.
The Prime Minister(PM) was also exposed by the Auditor General(AG) for allegedly failing to account for about R180million COVID-19 donated and public funds,he denied any wrongdoing,in a recent public public statement released by Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo.
An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News further uncovered that, Sipho Mthethwa, the ACC Chief Investigator is allegedly among the most corrupt group of ACC investigators who are taking bribes, paid and used by powerful individuals to manipulate the law enforcement institution and target others who are threatening the interests of the corrupt syndicate.
But a high level lifestyle investigation conducted by this publication into Mthethwa’s alleged dealings and manipulation of the ACC for personal benefit, is ongoing and findings will be published in due course.
Jabu Phakathi,the Spokesperson of the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) declined to comment when asked to clarify the matter.
Reached for comments on Friday evening, Zakhele Dlamini, the Director of Funduzi Forensic Services, confirmed that, a former Director of the forensic company was summoned by the ACC.
“No official documents or request was made to our company in writing to date but were informed that our ex-Director who resigned early last year was called in and we still waiting to be filled as to why and what was that all about”, said the Funduzi Forensic Services Director.
SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff who is alleged to have unleashed the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) to target the Auditor General(AG) remains evasive as he promised to respond to questions later.
“I will respond later”, he said.
Efforts to reach the Auditor General(AG) proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
On another note, this publication gathered that on Wednesday morning, ACC Chief Investigator Sipho Mthethwa held a meeting with Zakhele Dlamini, the Director of Funduzi Forensic Services at eZulwini and after the meeting, Dlamini was followed by a foreign registered car.
It is alleged that, Mthethwa pretended to be meeting the Funduzi Director for some clarification as part of his investigation but, it later transpired that he was on another mission.
“Upon realizing that the foreign registered car was following him after the meeting,the Funduzi Director quickly took the number plate and investigated the owner, he discovered that, it’s a Government rented car. So if you connect the dots,Dlamini was called by the ACC investigator for the meeting,then how did the person who followed him knew that by that time, the Funduzi Forensic Services Director will be in eSwatini and to be precise, eZulwini,because most of the time he works in South Africa.It’s clear that Mthethwa had other motives”, said an insider.
The Auditor General(AG) has been reporting threats on his life ever since he started investigating corruption in the public administration with the powerful and politically connected now using the ACC against him.
Public hospitals remain without drugs and despite the fact that a forensic report exposed those who looted public funds, the ACC that is allegedly dominated by alleged corrupt investigators failed to make arrests but now, investigating the Auditor General(AG) with an intention to arrest him.
AG Timothy Matsebula.