MBABANE:Kareem Ashraff,the Director of SwaziPharm and multibillion drugs shortage alleged thief, is among those who are being investigated by the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) for his alleged involvement in the looting of billions of public funds within the Ministry of Health resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals and, the death of dozens of emaSwati.
The ACC is allegedly investigating the multibillion drugs shortage scandal as per the contents of a Parliament Public Accounts Committee(PAC) report that confirmed an earlier report released by Funduzi Forensic Services.
Neal Rijikernberg, the Minister of Finance implemented a resolution of the previous Parliament that came subsequent to an investigation by a Select Committee involving the then Ndzingeni Member of Parliament(MP) Lutfo Dlamini, the Finance Minister successfully launched an investigation through the Office of the Auditor General.
But the Select Commitee investigated the health crisis after a series of investigative articles published by this Swaziland News exposing the health crisis and since then, the issue of the shortage of drugs in public hospitals has been dominating Parliament proceedings while forming part of the public discourse.
It has been disclosed that, after learning about the investigation, Ashraff first tried to capture, control the ACC and turned it against Auditor General(AG) Timothy Matsebula and Funduzi Director Zakhele Dlamini however, it later transpired that even King Mswati was following the investigation with keen interest to see it concluded and the suspects appearing in court.
In fact, an investigation conducted by this publication uncovered that, the King allegedly said the law must take its course even if those implicated are closer to him as the health crisis resulted to the media accusing him of stealing public funds yet he “never stole any cent meant to procure drugs in public hospitals”.
Percy Simelane, the King’s Spokesperson told this Swaziland News earlier that, Mswati “remains hopeful that an investigation will clear his name and expose those who looted the public funds within the Ministry of Health”.
But apart from that, international organizations and financial institutions assisting eSwatini in addressing the ongoing health crisis particularly,in the ongoing transformation of the Central Medical Stores(CMS) are also eager to see the high level drugs shortage investigation producing results.
Prime Minister(PM) Russell Mmiso Dlamini, when delivering the Government Performance Report on Friday disclosed that, the Anti Corruption Commission “is investigating some corruption cases but, the PM did not reveal further details.
“Kareem Ashraff main bank accounts were frozen pending the investigations, he is struggling to supply Government with drugs now because there are issues even with the international suppliers amid the ongoing investigation,” said an insider very close to the matter.
Efforts to seek a comment from ACC Spokesperson Jabu Phakathi proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
But this is not the first time Kareem Ashraff ‘lands’ in trouble on matters involving alleged stealing of public funds but, he allegedly use his financial muscle to halt such investigations.
Sources told this publication that, “he is also considering funding his ‘boy’ Charles Matsebula a former Times journalist, to re-open the now defunct Swazi Mirror so he can manage what he described as ‘bad publicity’ in the multibillion drugs shortage scandal.
The frustration by Kareem Ashraff to control the narrative in the multibillion drugs shortage scandal, further resulted to him allegedly running to retiring Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo who also tried to clear him of any wrongdoing through press statements and this, was despite the existence of investigation reports including a report compiled by the Parliament Public Accounts Committee(PAC).
SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff declined to comment about the matter and/or his looming arrest when this Swaziland News contacted him.
But on Sunday, he was quoted by the Eswatini Observer saying “he has decided to stop” supplying Government with drugs.
In the alleged interview with the Sunday Observer edited or managed by his alleged other ‘boy’ editor Mbongeni Mbingo, Ashraff further touched on the issue of the investigation by the Anti Corruption Commission while attempting to discredit the report released by Funduzi Forensic Services.
In fact, at the height of the high level investigation, the Eswatini Observer took an interest in attempting to discredit Auditor General Timothy Matsebula and Zakhele Dlamini, the Director of Funduzi Forensic Services.
As a result, there was an attempt to sway the public opinion or attention from the real multibillion drugs shortage scandal to mere petty issues allegedly involving the Auditor General, the attempt failed to gain momentum as the health crisis worsened attracting the attention of international organizations.
The alleged attempt by Kareem Ashraff to play into the media gallery in an alleged attempt to evade public accountability in the drugs shortage scandal, was exposed by this publication.
“Enough is enough.For years, supplying Government with medicines was not just business for us, but a contribution to nation-building that we were proud to make, but the dishonesty has reached levels where we simply cannot endure it anymore.We will now stick to supplying the private sector because government, at this point, is not working for the people but against them, just so certain individuals can line their pockets,” he said as quoted by the State owned Eswatini Observer.
The SwaziPharm Director who was implicated through a bundle of documentary evidence published by this Swaziland News even before the report released by the forensic investigators, used the Observer again this week in an attempt to discredit the report.
The Public Accounts Committee(PAC) led by Mhlangatane Member of Parliament(MP) and Deputy Speaker Madala Bonginkhosi Mhlanga, conducted its own independent investigation and subsequently confirmed the findings of the Funduzi Forensic Services report.
The PAC is an investigation and/or public accountability wing of the Legislative Arm of Government, Kareem Ashraff further criticized the entire Parliament during the interview with the Observer for adopting the Funduzi Forensic Services report.
“The so-called forensic investigation is nothing but a money-grabbing scheme. They hired an audit firm with no offices, no credible staff, and no expertise to conduct an investigation into one of the most pressing issues in this country, and they paid E4 million of taxpayers’ money for this charade.How can you justify paying E4 million of taxpayers’ money to a company with no credible expertise, only to produce a report that Parliament has endorsed without meaningful action?”,said the SwaziPharm Director.
But in the same interview, Ashraff disclosed or confirmed knowledge of the alleged investigation by the Anti Corruption Commission or his looming arrest, he questioned why “it has taken so long for the ACC” to conclude the investigation.
“Where are the arrests? Where is the accountability for those supposedly guilty?” he said.
But Ashraff subsequently criticized the Government, accusing the State of failing to provide evidence of alleged misconduct thus fuelling what he described as an “ongoing propaganda” that tarnishes his company-SwaziPharm’s reputation.
“There have been leaks about my company to tabloids, spreading false allegations that cannot be substantiated.I have publicly challenged anyone with proof of wrongdoing by Swazipharm to come forward or take us to court, but no one has done so.Instead, we are met with insults and disrespect at every corner,”said the SwaziPharm Director.
But despite the ongoing investigation into the health crisis, sources within the corridors of power told this publication that, Ashraff might be arrested after the looming removal of his alleged ‘close friend’ Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala.
“It might be difficult to obtain a warrant of arrest against Ashraff while Bheki Maphalala is still the Chief Justice. So you must follow this matters as they unfold in coming months, one matter might lead to the other. If he evades accountability in a such sensitive scandal involving the lives of emaSwati and now, followed with keen interest even by international organizations who are trying to assist in addressing the health crisis, then we must just accept that, Ashraff is ruling this country”, said the insider.
SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff.