Africa-Press – Eswatini. King Mswati is allegedly impressed with Acting Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP) Lomvula Hlophe’s bravery and commitment to fight corruption particularly, the efforts she made to arrest SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff who stands accused of looting billions of public funds resulting in the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.
A member of the Judicial Service Commission(JSC) told that, even though the King did not issue any order directing the JSC to confirm or recommend Hlophe for appointment but, the Monarch recently made positive comments about her after reading news in the media about the efforts to fight corruption.
The King allegedly described Hlophe as a brave woman saying, “unesibindzi lomfati mosi Ashraff wehlula emadvodza solo abakhoni kumbopha kani uyaganga”.
It is alleged that, the King made it clear that if Ashraff committed a crime, he must be arrested not to hide behind royalty, Kareem Ashraff was not immediately available for a comment.
But the JSC member was reacting to an article previously published by this publication where it was reported that, “the State is in terms of Government rules”, obligated to confirm Lomvula Hlophe as DPP after she acted in the same position for more than three(3) years.
“She might be comfirmed, the King is very happy about her”, said a JSC member.
On another note, King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane recently told that, Ashraff was not enjoying any royal protection adding that, the King stated that all those who looted public funds within the Ministry of Health must be arrested if found to have committed a crime.
“Our experience is that Princes have been locked up, charged and sentenced but the king did not intervene. We therefore have no reasons to believe that the businessman in question is a holly cow. He is deeply concerned about drugs shortage of medication in public hospitals,” said the King’s Spokesperson.
It has been disclosed that, the King has been expressing serious concerns regarding the delay in addressing the health crisis as “people then shift the blame to him when in fact, the money to purchase drugs was budget by Government but looted.
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