By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:State documents obtained by this Swaziland News implicate Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development Thabsile Mlangeni in the awarding of the about R2billion construction of Presidential Villas tender to Kareem Ashraff’s LaSorogeera Interiors Swazi(Pty) Ltd, without involving the Eswatini Tender BoardS

The documents suggest, the PS wrote a letter dated 6th May 2025 to Ujjwal Goel, the LaSorogeera Interiors Swazi(Pty) Ltd Managing Director awarding the tender in a highly syndicated corruption.

But subsequently, the PS approached the Tender Board to formalize and legitimize the tender awarded to Ashraff’s company through alleged corrupt means and as a result, the Tender Board approved the tender on the 6th June 2025 while Kareem Ashraff was already commencing the construction of the Villas meant to accommodate Heads of State during the upcoming King Mswati’s forty(40) years on the Throne celebrations next year.

“We have pleasure in appointing your company as a Main Contractor for the Design and build of 60 Royal Villas to be constructed at Ezulwini, Eswatini”, reads the letter in part, signed by the Economic Planning Principal Secretary.

King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane denied the King’s involvement in the awarding of the tender to Ashraff, he told this Swaziland News that, the King does not participate in the decisions of the Tender Board.

But Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli and Kareem Ashraff declined to comment about the matter.

On another note, the about R2billion tender has been stopped after being exposed by this Swaziland News, billions of public funds were allegedly looted by Kareem Ashraff, a businessman of Indonesian origin.