PREMIER Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) is said to have
splashed a jaw-dropping US$3 million on designer suits for top executives, fuel
and curious information communication technology (ICT) upgrades at a time when
its client’s medical insurance was being rejected by service providers.
The company is alleged to have spent more than US$75 000 on
designer suits for company managers, including buying ladies’ fashion coats,
casual shirts and slacks for two employees. The company also shelled out more
than US$100 000 on fuel for board members, management and staff.
It is, however, the ICT upgrades that haemorrhaged the
company the most. Documents show that on June 2 2017 then-managing director
Engineer Tendai Kapumha signed for ICT upgrades worth $2,6 million (through
PSMAS purchase number 22122), of which US$1,1 million was to be paid in
advance.
A sum of US$2,4 million was also paid out to Frolgate
Technology for supply and installation of new data cabling infrastructure,
while US$2,7 million was used to buy other ICT consumables on November 22
2017. Further, the medical aid company
was charged US$60 000 by Checkpoint Health for a mobile app and website
development. The company also doled out US$30 425 for the construction and
design of an exhibition stand at the Zimbabwe Agricultural show on August 17
2017.
PSMAS spokesman Mr Arthur Choga, however, defended the
expenditures.
“As for the ICT system, we did not just wake up one day and
said we were going to buy one. It is something which was discussed and planned
over a five-year period. A lot of positive things happened between then and
now. We have improved efficiency and mended relations with our stakeholders. We
also cut our legacy debt by $17 million before the price madness,” he said.
Sunday News is also in possession of a document compiled by
workers which details the alleged malpractices which border on gross abuse of
office. The originators of the document have implored Government to investigate
issues raised.
“We only bought 10 new ambulances to increase our old
ailing fleet, yet we should have bought at least 40 ambulances. We now have
ambulances that break down while carrying patients. In the mornings some
ambulances are pushed, yet we are busy buying expensive cars. This shows lack
of business acumen or a board that does not care at all.
“The company has disbursed over 250 luxurious cars. We are
not in the transport business but surely this is pathetic to have such a huge
fleet for a company yet pharmacies are
empty, no reagents, it is pathetic yet management is
concerned with luxurious lifestyles. In 2010 executive directors through their
manager went on a spree to purchase old second hand vehicles from Japan wasting
company resources. Most employees got cars as old as 10 to 15 years by 2010 yet
the cars were first used in 1995 to 2000, but they went ahead and bought
employees such old cars with high prices which could have bought newer cars,”
reads the report.
It added that management went on to buy themselves new cars
such as Prados, Toyota Land Cruisers, Jeep Grand Cherokees, Nissan Navaras,
Fortuners and Mercedes Benz.
“In 2017 the company went on to buy brand new cars from
their suppliers and the selection of suppliers was not flighted in the media.”
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio
Committee on Health Dr Ruth Labode is alleged to be a supplier of drugs to
PSMAS members via Apple Pharmacy which is she is allegedly a shareholder.
According to the document, Dr Labode is acting in conflict of interest.
“It is a conflict of interest for Apple Pharmacy to have a
Service Level Agreement with PSMAS to sell drugs to PSMAS members as the owner
is the chairperson of the Health Parliamentary Portfolio Committee. She cannot
investigate corruption as she is also a service provider,” read the document.
Contacted for comment, Dr Labode said Apple Pharmacy was a
family business and there was no conflict of interest as alleged.
“That is a family business which is run by Mr Labode my
husband, I am not the only one who supplies drugs to those clients, we are
contracted by PSMAS and there is nothing wrong with that. But if people feel
like he should withdraw his services he can do it,” she said.
Mr Ayo Labode, a pharmacist said he was indeed supplying
drugs and there was nothing wrong with that.
“I have been running that pharmacy since 2001 and I was the
first one to service PSMAS, Dr Labode only went to Parliament in 2014 so how
does that influence my running of the pharmacy? Again a doctor cannot run a
pharmacy, only a pharmacist can,” he said.
The document further claims that unqualified people have
been employed to management levels in the organisation yet there well deserving
people that have been deprived of
opportunities. The company is also alleged to have purchased obsolete
X-ray and CT scanning machines purported to be new machines. A PSMAS board
member who asked not be named said the company was addressing some of the
issues raised. Sunday Mail
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