By Zweli Martin Dlamini

It is extremely difficult to separate King Mswati from the alleged corrupt thieves who collapsed our health system particularly because,these individuals of questionable character like SwaziPharm Wholesalers Director Kareem Ashraff are normally seen rubbing shoulders with the Monarch.

Ashraff is an alleged corrupt bully who, even after being implicated in the multibillion health crisis scandal, tried to undermine even the authority of Parliament by refusing to appear before the Public Accounts Committee(PAC) to answer and clarify allegations as per the report of the Auditor General(AG) and/or Funduzi Forensic Services.

But on Sunday, Kareem Ashraff used Eswatini Observer edited by his alleged ‘boy’ Mbongeni Mbingo to try and discredit Parliament,Funduzi Forensic Services and other State institutions that investigated the circumstances surrounding the stealing or looting of billions within the Ministry of Health resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.

The SwaziPharm Director ‘attacked’ almost everyone including this Swaziland News, in fact to him everyone who investigated this alleged corruption is wrong and, he “thought he could use the Observer to sway the public opinion” in such a very sensitive matter involving the lives of emaSwati,the health crisis cannot be ignored.

Mswati must ask himself why as a King,he allowed such alleged corrupt thieves to be closer or enjoy proximity with him if he is not a thief himself.

The mere fact that, it has taken too long to arrest Ashraff suggests that, even State institutions were trying to understand if Kareem Ashraff is in good standing with the King.

It’s only in eSwatini where law enforcement agencies are expected to seek permission from the King or “kucela tigebengu letisolakala ekwebeni timali tesive eNkhosini” before arresting those suspects.

In this regard and based on this ‘unwritten policy’ that undermines the principles of transparency and accountability in the public administration, we have a reason to suspect that, “kwayena loMswati kusho kutsi yiNkhosi yetigebengu” 

Therefore, should the law enforcers fail to arrest Kareem Ashraff despite all the available and overwhelming evidence and after various independent investigations conducted even by Parliament, that would mean King Mswati was also involved in the stealing of the billions within the Ministry of Health.

The King cannot hide behind the leaf forever and, if it’s true that he was never involved in the multibillion looting of public funds within the Ministry of Health resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals, then he must act like a responsible citizen and assist us to throw Kareem Ashraff behind bars.

Mswati was recently seen with the alleged thief during the official opening of Kareem Ashraff’s companies and therefore, we have a reason to appeal for his assistance in apprehending the suspect who allegedly looted the public funds.

Ashraff is an alleged corrupt thief who allegedly killed emaSwati in the various public hospitals by stealing the billions meant to purchase drugs, he must be held accountable in terms of the law.