Africa-Press – Eswatini. Rife fraud and corruption in the health sector, which culminated into the declaration of a national crisis by government, has been enlisted as a top priority among the 251 cases being investigated by the newly-appointed Anti-Corruption Task Team.
The task team, which has committed to effect arrests in due course, has started work earnestly following the pronouncement by Prime Minister, Russell Dlamini, that he anxiously looks forward to the arrest of corrupt big wigs, commonly referred to as bobhabuli.
Acting National Commissioner of Police (NatCom) Lydia Dlamini, who forms part of the task team, which also comprises of acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Lomvula Hlophe and acting Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Maphevu Mkhatshwa, pledged that they would leave no stone unturned in the quest to uproot corruption as ordered by Sibaya, His Majesty King Mswati III and the prime minister.
Corruption
The prioritisation of corruption in the health sector aligns with the statement made by King during the official opening of the First Session of 12th Parliament on Friday, where he issued a directive that no Liswati should die due to the lack of proper health services in the country.
His Majesty’s instruction comes in the wake of a perpetual health crisis ,which has resulted in unwarranted deaths in various health centres primarily due to the shortage of medicinal drugs, which was allegedlyy caused by deep rooted corruption in the procurement and supply mechanisms.
The King said the ultimate goal should be strengthening Eswatini’s health sector and to provide specialised medical care locally.
Dlamini disclosed that they had already increased their focus on corruption cases within the police service.
“Even before the highly welcome move by the prime minister of appointing an anti-corruption task team, we were already investigating cases of fraud and corruption immediately after Sibaya, where the King and Emaswati ordered that corruption, which continues to deplete national resources, should be fought collaboratively by all State agencies entrusted with enforcing the law,” said Dlamini.
The NatCom mentioned that they had engaged in a series of meetings with the premier as security forces to discuss and craft a way forward as to how corruption could be uprooted in the kingdom.
“The commitment to combat corruption is very high. One of the high profile cases which we are diligently proceeding with as a priority relates to fraud investigations into the health crisis.
Otherwise, we are proceeding with all investigations unabated,” the NatCom disclosed.
Investigations into the health crisis have seen Industrial Court Judge, Muzikayise Motsa, recusing himself from hearing the medical drugs and procurement case, where two health ministry officers, Sincedzile Dlamini- Magwaza, and Fortunate Bhembe, took government to court in a bid to stop the forensic investigation into the issue of procurement of medical drugs Government moved an application for the judge to recuse himself.
The judge said his personal safety and the security and safety of his family and children, who he endears so much, were now threatened, just because he presided over a particular matter and it was no longer worth it.
The ACC commissioner also declared that they would not fear or be intimidated by status in society or political position of corrupt individuals as they undertake their investigations.
Mkhatshwa said they would strictly abide by dictates of the Constitution (2005) and Prevention of
Corruption Act (2006) in the quest to uproot corruption in the kingdom as enunciated by His Majesty King Mswati III during the official opening of the First Session of the 12th Parliament on Friday.
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