MBABANE:Kareem Ashraff,the influential, powerful and politically connected SwaziPharm Director is allegedly working with Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini to reshuffle or fire Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula for refusing to endorse the transforming of the Central Medical Stores(CMS) to be under the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS(NERCHA) and procure drugs for Government.
Ashraff has alleged business interests in the procurement of drugs and as per the Funduzi Forensic Services report,he stands accused of looting over R1billion public funds within the Ministry of Health, resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.
Now, it has emerged that, the intended procurement of drugs to be under NERCHA, was allegedly discussed during a secret meeting between Kareem Ashraff and the Prime Minister.
The politically connected businessman allegedly arrived at the Cabinet Offices on Monday around 1pm and the meeting was also meant to discuss the reinstatement of Vumile Dlamini,the removed Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Royal Science and Technology Park(RSTP).
Kareem Ashraff declined to comment about the alleged meeting with the Prime Minister.
But information shared to this Swaziland News by senior Cabinet sources suggests that,by appointing Dr Nondumiso Ginindza-Ncube as NERCHA Executive Director, the PM and Kareem Ashraff wanted to commence the process of directing the procurement of drugs to be under NERCHA, a Government entity under the Prime Minister’s Office.
But Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula and Principal Secretary(PS) Khanya Mabuza are alleged to have refused to endorse the process citing its vulnerability to corruption due to lack of accountability systems, hence the intended reshuffle of both the Health Minister and the Principal Secretary.
King Mswati is alleged to have refused to endorse a reshuffle that include four(4) other Ministers who are being accused by Russell Mmiso Dlamini of refusing to take orders and listen to him as the Prime Minister.
Thabile Mdluli, the Acting Government Spokesperson declined to comment when asked to clarify the purpose of the secret meeting between Ashraff and the Prime Minister that took place on Monday afternoon.
But the Cabinet source further touched on the issue of Civil Service Commission(CSC) Simanga Mamba who is allegedly wanted out by the Prime Minister.
“CSC Chairman Simanga Mamba is also a target, the Prime Minister wants to reshuffle even Principal Secretaries and appoint people who are loyal to him but, he cannot do that without Simanga’s approval. Mamba protected Auditor General(AG) Timothy Matsebula and refused to suspend him after the PM issued that order. So for the PM to strengthen his power, he needs the approval of the King to reshuffle or fire some Cabinet Ministers but, to fire and reshuffle Principal Secretaries, he must first seek approval from the CSC Chairman who will motivate the decision before the King. Now, the plan is also to remove Simanga Mamba and then appoint a new CSC Chairman who will be loyal to Ashraff and the PM. The intended reshuffle for Principal Secretaries will then be possible,” said the senior Cabinet source.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Friday morning, lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi said, NERCHA was established specifically, as a response department on HIV/AIDS issues and cannot procure drugs because that “is outside its mandate and is under the jurisdiction of the Central Medical Stores(CMS)”.
The lawyer said, the procurement of drugs for public hospitals falls under the Ministry of Health not the Prime Minister’s Office adding that, allowing NERCHA to procure drugs would be a violation of the Public Health Act.
“These are two(2) distinct entities, NERCHA is under the Prime Minister’s Office and was established for one reason; as a response to HIV/AIDS, that’s the mandate and scope for NERCHA and it cannot go beyond that, it is a Department within the Prime Minister’s Office. On the other hand, the Central Medical Stores, these are Government stores tasked with ensuring the availability of drugs in all health facilities under the Ministry of Health. So NERCHA cannot therefore, take or exercise powers of the Ministry of Health, the Prime Minister’s Office cannot take powers of the Ministry of Health. If they want to do that, that would mean they must first amend the Public Health Act to incorporate that. For now any action outside the law in this regard, would be problematic based on what I’ve just mentioned, the different mandates of the Central Medical Stores and NERCHA”, said the lawyer.
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