MBABANE:Eswatini has been listed by Afrobarometer as the most corrupt country in the African continent.
Afrobarometer is a Pan-African and independent research network that measures public attitudes on economic, political,and social matters,the organization is headquartered in Ghana-Accra.
The tiny Kingdom ruled by Mswati as an absolute Monarch is facing a health crisis amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals.
As a result of the shortage of drugs triggered by corruption,hundreds have died since the health crisis erupted.
Eswatini was rated at 87% while South Africa became the second most corrupt country at 82% followed by Lesotho at 81%.
This comes after companies allegedly owned by SwaziPharm Wholesalers Director Kareem Ashraff and other suppliers looted millions of Rands,Ashraff is an alleged friend to King Mswati who is above the law and has been looting the public funds with impunity.
Reached for comments,Brian Sangweni,the Spokesperson of eSwatini main political party,the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO)said,the listing of eSwatini as the most corrupt country in the African continent was long overdue.
“You will note that,in this country it is very hard to deal with corruption because it starts from the King and those who are corrupt normally run to the King for protection”,said the PUDEMO Spokesperson.
But Percy Simelane,the King’s Spokesperson said,without figures or evidence, it would be difficult to know what Afrobarometer was referring to.
The King’s Spokesperson further mentioned that,accusing the King of incubating or protecting the corrupt without quoting the cases where he protected those individuals would be unjust.
“Without figures suggesting how Eswatini beats other countries in the region and abroad,it would be difficult to know what exactly Afrobarometer is referring to.For any findings to be taken seriously there has to be scientific evidence.In the case of Eswatini it would make sense for Afrobarometer to quote cases of corrupt people who were saved by the King from punishment after they paid him cattle as it were.Without supporting literature and data this report remains yet another form of collective halucination, belonging only to the dust-bin of history.We shall continue to expect Afrobarometer to share evidence,” said the King’s Spokesperson when responding to this Swaziland News on Saturday morning.
King Mswati.