CORRUPTION, COLLUSION AND CONTROL: INDONESIAN BUSINESSMAN USES ESWATINI POLICE AS PRIVATE ARMY
In yet another shocking revelation of state capture in eSwatini, National Commissioner of Police Vusi Masango has been exposed for allegedly colluding with powerful businessman Kareem Ashraff to turn the Royal Eswatini Police into a private tool for revenge and cover-ups. The Indonesian-born businessman, who stands accused of looting billions through health procurement contracts, is now reportedly pulling the strings at the highest levels of law enforcement.
According to documents seen by this publication, Masango instructed Regional Commissioner Sikhumbuzo Fakudze to author a deceptive letter addressed to Parliament Speaker Jabulani ‘Buy Cash’ Mabuza. The letter, disguised as a request from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), sought minutes from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) regarding SwaziPharm’s directors’ appearance. However, it has now been exposed that this was not a legitimate request from the DPP—but a calculated move to gather ammunition for Ashraff, who plans to launch both criminal defamation and civil lawsuits against Funduzi Forensic Services for exposing him.
“We kindly request the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC’s) record of proceedings or minutes wherein the Directors of Swazi Pharm were summoned… to assist the DPP formulate a well-founded legal opinion,” reads the letter dated 1st July 2025 and signed by Assistant Superintendent M.E Dlamini on behalf of the Regional Commissioner.
But this was no quest for legal clarity. Sources confirmed that Ashraff is using these proceedings to silence the very investigators who exposed how billions were siphoned from the Ministry of Health under his shadowy operations—leading to deadly drug shortages across the country. While emaSwati perish daily due to a collapsed healthcare system, the businessman is spending millions bribing police officers, including Commissioner Masango and Hhohho Regional Commissioner, to protect him from facing justice.
Police spokesperson Phindile Vilakati declined to comment on these grave allegations, reinforcing suspicions of deep rot within the system.
An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News confirms that Ashraff has completely infiltrated and weaponised the police. This influence allegedly began when Masango headed the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU), where Ashraff secured multimillion-rand tenders to supply police uniforms—through bribes to senior officers.
Over the past 18 months alone, as the health corruption scandal spiralled out of control, Ashraff reportedly spent more than R2 million bribing key officials in the police force to quash investigations, manipulate records, and suppress evidence. His proximity to King Mswati is also playing a critical role in shielding him from prosecution, as he leverages the monarch’s unchecked authority and the proceeds of his corrupt dealings to intimidate institutions and officials alike.
The scale of this betrayal is staggering. Ashraff is not just stealing money—he is seizing control of state machinery to punish those who dare to expose the truth. And the biggest enabler in this grotesque theatre of impunity is none other than National Commissioner Vusi Masango, whose job is to protect the people—not serve the interests of a corrupt foreign tycoon.
Eswatini lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi has also weighed in, warning that Ashraff’s plan to prosecute individuals based on statements made in Parliament would be a direct assault on democratic norms.
“Parliamentary proceedings are protected by immunity. Anyone trying to prosecute based on what is said in Parliament is undermining its constitutional autonomy,” said Nhlabatsi.
This scandal is yet another brutal reminder that in eSwatini, corruption is not just a problem—it is a system. A system protected by police commissioners, empowered by absolute monarchy, and weaponised by the very people who should be behind bars. Until we dismantle this network of impunity, justice will remain a distant dream for the people of this country.
