By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:A genuine text message from Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini to Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo allegedly created a serious disagreement and/or conflict between the PM and SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff, the influential, powerful and politically connected “businessman who is implicated in the multibillion looting of public funds”.

In the message, the PM was innocently warning Nxumalo to be careful of Kareem Ashraff and “refrain from asking money or financial help from him as he then tells everyone”.

But instead of taking the advice and handle the matter in a more matured way, the Government Spokesperson allegedly forwarded the message to Ashraff and soon thereafter, the businessman forwarded the same message to the Prime Minister and blasted him for alleged betrayal.

Both Nxumalo and the PM have been alleged loyal servants to Kareem Ashraff for sometime now and, at the height of the multibillion drugs shortage scandal exposed by this publication and subsequently taken-up by other public accountability State institutions including Parliament, the Government Spokesperson released a statement, defending Ashraff while dozens of emaSwati “die in public hospitals”.

Ashraff stands accused of using his variouss companies to loot billions of taxpayers money within the Ministry of Health, resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.

It has been disclosed that about a month ago and, before the PM left the country to attend the inauguration of newly elected Mozambique President Daniel Chapo, the Prime Minister allegedly held a meeting with Ashraff and while they were discussing their dealings, Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo called Ashraff desperately asking for money or financial assistance. 

It was in the midst of that meeting where Kareem Ashraff allegedly placed the Government Spokesperson on a loud speaker demonstrating to the PM how powerful he was, as most Government officials including Cabinet Ministers, ask for financial assistance from him.

But the information was leaked to this Swaziland News by the State Intelligence Unit after the PM started to open-up about it to some Cabinet Ministers, expressing his deep frustration about Nxumalo who allegedly forwarded his massage where he was genuinely and innocently warning him to be careful of Ashraff.

Worth-noting, the SwaziPharm Director is alleged to have then started to harass the Prime Minister accusing him of being dishonest by telling Alpheous Nxumalo about the communication that was private between them.

It is alleged that,the PM is also receiving financial assistance including alleged bribes from businessman Kareem Ashraff to influence State decisions and based on that, “the businessman is allegedly bullying him”.

As a result,intelligence information in possession of this publication further suggests that, when the Prime Minister left the country to Mozambique to attend the recent inauguration of the newly elected President last month, the SwaziPharm Director allegedly went to Sikhuphe Airport with an alleged intention to park in a space where the Prime Minister’s escorts normally park just to harass, bully and demonstrate power over the Prime Minister.

This allegedly happened at the height of their conflict and when asked by the security personnel to remove the car, Kareem Ashraff allegedly said, the parking space was not specifically reserved for the Prime Minister but, for diplomats while reminding the PM that, “he holds a diplomatic status in the country and therefore, deserves to park in that space”.

Escorts had to watch in disbelief as Kareem Ashraff harassed the eSwatini Head of Government and, it remains unclear if the Prime Minister and the alleged powerful corrupt diplomat eventually smoked a peace-pipe.

But State Intelligence sources told this investigative this journalist this week that, even before the “Alpheous Nxumalo message”, the two(2) alleged ‘partners in crime’ had a serious disagreement over the supply of drugs after Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini tried to engage his business friends from Rwanda to supply drugs to Government through the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS(NERCHA).

“The Alpheous Nxumalo message was not the first incident that triggered tension between them,” said the State Intelligence source.

Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo and Kareem Ashraff declined to comment about the matter.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Thursday evening,Wandile Dludlu, the Deputy President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said, there’s no honour among thieves.

“There’s no honour among thieves and for us, that’s best explains the contest between King Mswati and his boys including his criminal syndicates.It’s a scramble for looting and everyone there is driven by greedy and passion for looting, so it’s going to be a deadly contest among those players. These people are supposed to be serving the Nation but, everyday they are being exposed that actually, these are nothing but thieves who are in a scramble for looting,” said the PUDEMO Deputy President.