Africa-Press – Eswatini. Funduzi Forensic Services, the company that conducted the controversial drugs shortage report has come out to defend its reputation and the credibility of the report.
Executive Director, Zakhele Dlamini, said it was extremely concerning to see the company’s name being dragged through the mud, but said it was not shocking as he was receiving numerous death threats.
He said these death threats did not move him an inch however, as he lived by the biblical quote, ‘the truth will set you free’.
“What helps me sleep at night is knowing very well that the report we tabled before government is credible and that it can be scientifically proven,” said Dlamini.
Dlamini said he was a born and bred Liswati, albeit now based in neighbouring South Africa for work commitments, and narrated that he felt a personal responsibility on the report, because his grandmother passed on at the Mankayane Government Hospital after battling for her life while the hospital could not provide medication.
“Trust me, I know first-hand how people are suffering because I had to travel all the way from South Africa to give her medication,” he emphasised.
Asked about the legality of the procurement process, which led to the company’s engagement, Dlamini said they were awarded the E2.38 million worth tender following a proper procurement process approved by the Government Tender Board.
Documents
“As procedural, we filed our tender bidding documents, and submitted the statutory documentation which showed that we were a local company registered in October 2022, with the skill and experience to conduct an investigation of that magnitude,” he said.
He explained that they specifically acquired the services of seasoned professionals, as consultants, consisting of two advocates of the South African High Court, two medical doctors, a senior pharmacist, senior forensic practitioners and forensic accountants, who included Charles Kwezera.
“This was done to specifically capacitate us for a project of this magnitude, which again, is not something foreign or sinister in the forensic audit world,” he stated, highlighting that it was also properly communicated with the tender board beforehand.
He acknowledged that the company applied for a merge of names on the day it met Cabinet (August 2, 2023) and said this was done on the request of Cabinet after the issue had come out as a matter of concern on media platforms.
“We didn’t understand what the uproar was about anyways because companies are by law allowed to have an official registered name and trade with a different name, but complied for the sake of Cabinet’s understanding that we weren’t being economical with the truth,” Dlamini said, underscoring that Funduzi Forensic Services is an extension in trading from DW Wealth Consultants.
“Thulani Mabuza and Paston Dlamini are directors, and then me and Denis Wooley are still the executive directors, this was done to ensure that we were not missed by business opportunities in the country as Wooley and I are both based in South Africa,” he explained.
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