MBABANE:Dr. Simon Zwane,the then Principal Secretar(PS) in the Ministry of Health allegedly assisted SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff to defraud the State through the Ministry of Health about R70million in one(1)day,a forensic investigation report reveals.
The investigation report in possession of this Swaziland News was compiled by Funduzi Forensic Services subsequent to an investigation into the shortage of drugs in public hospitals, the investigation was commissioned by Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg through the Office of the Auditor General(AG).
It has been disclosed through the report that on or around 2nd July 2020, the Principal Secretary(PS) allegedly approved an advance payment amounting to R9,999,999.00 for Kareem Ashraff AvaPharm(Pty) Ltd.
An advance payment is the type of payment that is made before or without the delivery of good or services.
The investigation report further suggest that,the same payment was duplicated and paid six(6) times with voucher numbers 0004122,0004124, 0004125, 0004119, 000120 and 000121 bringing the total amount to R59,999,994.00
But on the very same day,the PS allegedly approved another payment amounting to R8 610 756.31 bringing the total to R68,610,750.31.
A questionnaire was sent to Dr. Simon Zwane who was later transferred to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
“The above payments were motivated on the basis of an invoice received from Avapharm dated 17 June 2020 and signed off by the Principal Secretary(PS), Dr. Simon Zwane to the Accountant-General. The copy of the Invoice is annexed hereto and marked Exhibit 16.Based on the conventions for the processing of payments in Government,we were advised that each payment has its own batch number and therefore it would be irregular to process more than one payment on the basis of one batch number.The only rationale for processing more than one payment tied to one batch number would be to hide the true nature of the payment in circumstances akin to fraud.The payment batch reflecting the same batch number for the multiple payments above is attached herewith and marked Exhibit 17. Based on this,it is apparent that Avapharm would have been unduly enriched at the expense of the Government. This overpayment which constitutes fraudulent payment, should be recovered from Avapharm (Pty) Ltd and the Public Officials involved,disciplined accordingly”, reads the investigation report in part.
Reached for comments earlier, the SwaziPharm Director who is implicated in the looting of the public funds resulting to the health crisis,promised to speak to this Swaziland News after the court cases,however,he has been avoiding accountability.
“I will speak to you after the court cases”, said the SwaziPharm Director who subsequently avoided questions from this publication.
Eswatini is facing a health crisis,senior Government officials allegedly colluded with suppliers including SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff to loot public funds, resulting to shortage of drugs and subsequent death of hundreds of patients.
Reached for comments on Tuesday evening, Mayibongwe Masangwane,the Secretary General(SG) of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union(SWADNU)said,the corruption within the Ministry of Health resulted to patients being forced to buy their own medication.
“Even now the corruption is continuing,Government promised to deliver drugs but there’s nothing”, said the Nurses Union Secretary General.
On another note, the report also contains lists of companies alleged to have looted public funds, resulting to the death of hundreds of patients within the various public hospitals amid shortage of drugs.
PS Dr Simon Zwane