By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:SwaziPharm Kareem Ashraff, the powerful, influential and politically connected prime suspect’ in the multibillion alleged stealing of public funds within the Ministry of Health resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals, might soon be banned as a Government supplier.

This decision to ban Ashraff has been communicated by Government through a letter dated 28th May 2025, signed by Khanya Mabuza, the Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Health and directed to Vusi Matsebula, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the State owned Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency(ESPPRA).

But the letter in possession of publication, appears to be in compliance with the recommendations of the Parliament Public Accounts Committee(PAC) led by Deputy Speaker Madala Bonginkhosi Mhlanga, subsequent to intensive investigations and the adoption of various comprehensive reports including the Funduzi Forensic Services report.

The PAC, a public accountability institution recommended that, action must be taken against Ashraff’s companies and all suppliers allegedly implicated in the looting of public funds, resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.

“The Auditor General under the Ministry of Finance, instituted a Forensic Audit in the acquisition and distribution of medicines to public health facilities in the country.The audit report was tabled in Parliament early in the year by the Hon.Minister of Finance. The report has since been discussed and adopted by the Public Accounts Committee(PAC) of the Parliament. According to the audit report, the Ministry of Health(MoH) is called upon to implement a number of recommendations. One of the recommendations relates to instituting processes relating to the suspension of implicated service providers to the acquisition and distribution of medicines to the public health facilities”, reads the letter in part signed by Khanyakwezwe Mabuza,the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health.

Both Ashraff and eSwatini Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli declined to comment regarding these latest developments.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Sunday, lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi described the latest “developments as the first of its kind, where Government is seen implementing Parliament recommendations” of this nature.

“Parliament is supposedly the representative of the people,I would say ‘supposedly’ because in our country it’s something else. But this is one of the positive developments where Government is seen implementing Parliament recommendations”, said the lawyer.

The list of Government suppliers facing removal as stated in the letter, include SwaziPharm Wholesalers(Pty) LTD, Avapharm and ASD Medical being entities owned or with alleged links to businessman Kareem Ashraff.

Other suppliers include E. Medical Equipment and Consumables, Mabuyekhaya Pharmaceutical Wholesalers(Pty)LTD, Pharm Industry Swaziland, Sindroe Investments(Pty) LTD, Hloza Investments(Pty) LTD, Burco and V & H Surgical.

SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff remains the prime suspect in the alleged looting as even before the investigation launched by the Parliament Public Accounts Committee(PAC), this publication exposed how the politically connected Indonesian businessman was using different companies to loot billions of public funds within the Ministry of Health, he was allegedly colluding procurement officers within the Ministry of Health.

As a result, Sincedile Dlamini, the Chief Procurement Officer and Director Pharmaceuticals Fortunate Bhembe were suspended pending investigations into allegations of looting within the Ministry of Health that triggered a health crisis and/or shortage of drugs in public hospitals.

On another note, this publication gathered that top South African Advocates were recently booked at the Royal Villas-Ezulwini, they were in the country to analyse Kareem Ashraff’s criminal file after an investigation and collection of evidence by the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC).

But insiders within the corridors of power told this publication that, “Ashraff might be arrested after the removal of Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala who is allegedly refusing to sign a warrant of arrest”, Ashraff and Maphalala are alleged close friends.