By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Madala Bongnkhosi Mhlanga, the Deputy Speaker in the House of Assembly and Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee(PAC) says, SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff and his companies were given an opportunity to appear before Parliament and clarify allegations amid drugs shortage looting.

Ashraff and his companies were implicated in the alleged looting by the Auditor General(AG) report and subsequently, Funduzi Forensic Services.

The Public Accounts Committee also played a significant role in investigating the corruption before tabling a report that was subsequently adopted by the House of Assembly.

Responding to this Swaziland News this week, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee labelled SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff’s statements made during a recent press conference where he claimed to have been subjected to injustice by being denied an opportunity to clarify the allegations, as untrue.

“I can confirm that I saw the contents of the press conference and I can only comment on issues touching on the PAC. I totally disagree with the assertion that SwaziPharm was not afforded the opportunity to appear before the PAC they were indeed invited through the Ministry of Health and and the Managing Director sent a proxy citing him as the right person since the audit queries occurred whilst the proxy was at the helm”, he said.

The Deputy Speaker said, he then received a letter from the SwaziPharm Managing Director requesting to appear before the PAC but the report had been adopted by the House.

“I can also confirm that I did recieve a letter from the MD requesting to appear before the PAC this year and I had to seek legal advise from the Attorney General which he duly advised the Committee since the report had already been adopted by the House. In any event they have new evidence that has emerged they should present it to the line Ministry which will forward to AG and PAC. That’s the correct procedure,” said the PAC Chairman and Mhlangatane Member of Parliament(MP).

Kareem Ashraff who is facing arrest for allegedly looting billions of public funds, resulting in the shortage of drugs in public hospitals, addressed a press conference and denied any wrongdoing.

But dozens of emaSwati have died since the health crisis erupted triggered by “rampant corruption in the public administration, the corruption allegedly links Ashraff and his companies”.