MBABANE:Kareem Ashraff, the influential powerful and politically connected businessman allegedly fled Kenya after attempting to overthrow the Government of that country.
It has been disclosed that, the now powerful businessman who allegedly controls eSwatini Cabinet, the army, the police, the courts and other governing structures, allegedly arrived in the country during the reign of Liqoqo after the death of King Sobhuza in the early 1980s. He then ventured into business through alleged corrupt means and subsequently became the most powerful businessman after being appointed as an Indonesian Consular, it remains unclear if Ashraff will not plot to overthrow the eSwatini Government.
Ashraff’s history of attempting to overthrow the Government of Kenya and appoint his own Cabinet is covered in various history books in that country, including a media freedom report titled “So this is democracy?”.
An investigation conducted by this Swaziland News on his diplomatic passports uncovered that, Kareem Ashraff was allegedly born in Kenya and, through his powerful connections, he subsequently became an Indonesian Consular.
Currently, the powerful businessman allegedly controls the eSwatini Government through his alleged close ally Prime Minister(PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini, the two(2) are reportedly plotting a Cabinet reshuffle including reshuffling and firing Principal Secretaries(PSs) who are not loyal to their powerful political syndicate.
It has been widely reported by this publication that, Ashraff stands accused of looting billions of public funds within the Ministry of Health, resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.
As a result, dozens have died since the health crisis erupted.
But apart from that, the powerful and politically connected businessman is allegedly implicated in the disappearance of over R100million within the Royal Science and Technology Park(RSTP), his various companies are allegedly dealing with almost all the institutions of the State.
A questionnaire was sent to Kareem Ashraff, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli recently declined to respond to a questionnaire regarding an alleged secret meeting between the PM and Ashraff who are currently in Indonesia.
Eswatini is currently facing what other loyalists of the Tinkhundla system described as a “State Capture” as Kareem Ashraff stretches his political and financial power to influence decisions in the public administration and, with the power he holds now in the army and the police, it remains to seen if he will not eventually plot to overthrow the eSwatini Government considering his history in Kenya.
Kareem Ashraff.