By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. The person who advised Swazipharm Director Kareem Ashraff to respond, is indeed loyal and his good friend because with the Eswatini Government maintaining silence, the businessman might win and change the public narrative unchallenged.
After-all, Kareem Ashraff is entitled to the right to reply and clarify the allegations against him.
Ashraff is blamed the Government procurement systems when questioned by this publication amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals.
When responding to our questionnaire, he denied stealing public funds and maintained that the Office of the Auditor General (AG) and Funduzi Forensic Services compiled investigation reports with unsubstantiated facts.
But what is more interesting is the fact that, Ashraff is not merely denying the allegations but armed with documentary evidence suggesting that, he delivered the drugs and even volunteered to present copies of the documents to this publication.
I had on numerous occasions, told public figures who always complicate the professional relationship with journalists that, producing evidence when denying allegations against you is not only a demonstration of commitment to accountability but, you are assisting the journalist to gather more facts and be accurate in his/her reporting.
Now, with the Eswatini Government maintaining silence and might not come out to counter Ashraff denial, this means the SwaziPharm Director is winning because the Swaziland News is the only publication that has been exposing the circumstances surrounding the health crisis in the country.
Kareem Ashraff has finally produced information defending himself and now, the onus is upon the Eswatini Government that applied for a warrant of arrest against him to prove him wrong, if the Government decides to keep quiet, that would mean the SwaziPharm Director’s version will go unchallenged.
I once mentioned that those who always say “we will never responded” are depriving themselves an opportunity to defend and correct a particular narrative, Ashraff has responded and level of evidence he has produced suggests that, the matter must now be handled at the Eswatini Government level where the budget was administered.
Parliament approved the Ministry of Health budget and Executive Arm of Government through the Office of the Auditor General (AG) accused Ashraff’s companies of wrongdoing, we are waiting for the Government to dispute or dismiss his version and produce a counter evidence linking Ashraff to the payment of drugs that were never delivered.
I have my own views and opinion about the conduct of Kareem Ashraff but I don’t want to overstep my duties as a journalist and turn the health crisis into a “Zwemart vs Ashraff” issue when in fact there’s a Government that should be taking responsibility and address this crisis.
I’ve always advocated and continue to advocate for a free, fair and independent media where even those accused of wrongdoing will have an opportunity to defend themselves and then, the public will make their own conclusion.
I will therefore send questionnaires to the Government just like I did with Ashraff and if there’s no response, that would mean Kareem Ashraff is winning and his version will now dominate the public discourse unchallenged.
