By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. Kareem Ashraff, the Swazipharm Director and alleged dangerous corrupt drug dealer of Indonesian origin, is now using State police to target the Public Accounts Committee(PAC) and as citizens of this country, we have an obligation to protect Parliament from this bullying.
Parliament as the Legislative Arm of Government whose fundamental duties among others, is to demand accountability in the public administration enjoys immunity and constitutionally, Members of Parliament(MPs) cannot be prosecuted or sued based on what they said in Parliament.
Furthermore, MPs are protected by the Parliamentary Privileges Act and are in terms of the law, free to express themselves in Parliament.
But now, Ashraff has captured National Commissioner Vusi Manoma Masango and senior police officers who wrote a letter to the Speaker through Clerk to Parliament, demanding the record of proceedings so that they can assist Ashraff launch criminal defamation proceedings against Funduzi Forensic Services, what type of nonsense is this?.
Well, it was the first time to see the PAC taking on Kareem Ashraff on issues of corruption and that’s why he is running like a headless chicken trying to intimidate State institutions including Parliament.
Ashraff has been stealing public funds in this country with impunity, not even the PAC under the then Chairperson Thuli Dladla questioned him but instead, Dladla was focusing on Headteachers while Ashraff loots billions of public funds.
The PAC under Deputy Speaker and Mhlangatane Member of Parliament(MP) Madala Mhlanga has demonstrated love for this country, the people of Mhlangatane must be proud of him.
It’s not an easy task in this country to investigate and compile reports about Kareem Ashraff and we know the challenges faced by the Mhlangatane MP and current PAC Chairman who is intimidated almost everyday.
But perhaps, we must also applaud the entire House and all the MPs for adopting the various PAC reports including the Funduzi Forensic Services report that exposed the health crisis, Parliament is working as a collective, it cannot be one MP.
As emaSwati, we must put the interests of this country first when addressing this health crisis and regardless of our political differences, we don’t have another country like Kareem Ashraff who can just fly to Indonesia.
Therefore, if we allow corrupt thieves to destroy State institutions, we have ourselves to blame, I was born at LaMgabhi eTiyeni and even if I can fly to other countries, there’s no place where I feel comfortable like LaMgabhi.
This means I cannot allow an alleged corrupt and politically connected thief to destroy my country, Kareem Ashraff must be stopped before it’s too late.
As mentioned, we have our political differences as emaSwati but our common interest is the country, all of us have a duty to protect this country.
Now, it’s the time to protect each other as emaSwati, if Ashraff goes for Madala Mhlanga, the Speaker, Funduzi Director Zakhele Dlamini, Nhlambeni MP Manzi Zwane, Mayiwane MP KhungaNkhosi Dlamini, Marwick Khumalo or anyone fighting corruption in Parliament, he must know he is touching the entire country.
We will discuss our political differences later but, Ashraff cannot just capture the police and write letters with an intention to intimidate those fighting corruption, he must back-off!!!.
We can’t allow alleged corrupt drug dealers to capture State institutions, bully the entire country with lawyers using the billions stolen from the public coffers.
Swazipharm Director Kareem Ashraff is an alleged corrupt thief and is smuggling drugs even through the King Mswati International Airport,he does have any reputation.
Criminals defamation proceedings can be launched by individuals of integrity who feel defamed not a drug dealer.
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