When Khanya Mabuza,the Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Health accepted medical supplies worth R1.8million on Monday from alleged drugs shortage thief SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff, it became clear that Government is not ready to address the health crisis and more emaSwati are yet to die.
United Nations(UN) Resident Coordinator George Wachira must be ashamed of himself,we haven’t seen him raising a decisive voice calling upon the government to address the health crisis,this is an emergency and diplomacy that undermines the right to life and results to the death of innocent lives is literally useless.
What is happening in the public hospitals is a silent genocide, the UN and other international human rights organizations only raise a voice when people are killed through military weapons.
It should be noted that,the health crisis is worse than the recent political unrest because as you ready this, hundreds of emaSwati are dying silently within the various hospitals.
One wonders what is in the mind of the UN Resident Coordinator who is obviously fully aware that, the about 70% of the population living below the poverty line can’t afford to buy themselves medication.
Worth-noting, access to healthcare and/or the right to life is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by this time, the UN Eswatini should have long been seized with the matter of the health crisis based on written international human rights principles.
But alas, we are seeing a diplomat deployed by the United Nations(UN) posing for pictures with a regime that kills citizens using guns and the deliberate destruction of the health system.
The health crisis erupted as a result of corruption and the culprits are known as per a report released by Funduzi Forensic Services.
But Government is absolutely doing nothing to arrest the politically connected thieves except to ensure that,the forensic report is kept under the carpet without being implemented while the thieves receive political protection.
The UN Eswatini,without taking sides as diplomacy suggests,should be demanding accountability because an international recognized right to life is being violated with impunity in this country.
UN Secretary General(SG) António Guterres must explain why he deployed George Wachira to eSwatini, a useless diplomat to eSwatini.
Wachira is not competent but busy massaging corrupt politicians who kill civilians using guns and the deliberate destruction of the health system.
What happened on Monday where we saw SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff,a powerful and politically connected alleged thief cited in the looting of public funds within the Ministry of Health resulting to the health crisis,donating medical supplies worth R1.8million was an insult to the Nation.
That donation could only cater for a private clinic for a week not the entire country.
Government must utilize taxes paid by the citizens and provide drugs in public hospitals.
It’s very unfortunate that this corrupt,cruel and oppressive Tinkhundla regime,continues to reduce the lives of emaSwati into donations in a country with adequate resources to cater for the needs of the citizens.
In conclusion,perhaps one must remind George Wachira,the UN Eswatini Resident Coordinator that he is here to promote among others, the global agenda of the UN that advocates for a better life for all as per the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).
Access to healthcare is in line with the United Nations(UN) Sustainable Development Goal(SDG) number three(3)and George Wachira should be working towards achieving that by ensuring that,the health crisis is addressed.
We are not seeking donations from the UN,we have our own money in this country as we pay tax.
King Mswati’s lavish lifestyle is a good example that we are rich in this country, all we need to do is to force this government to prioritize the lives of emaSwati.
We are merely urging the UN Eswatini to add a voice in demanding the availability of drugs in public hospitals,money is sufficient.
UN Eswatini Resident Coordinator George Wachira.