Mayor calls for inquiry into council medical aid

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume says there is need for council to institute a commission of inquiry into the affairs of the Harare Municipal Medical Aid Society (HMMAS).

Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter

Speaking at recent full council meeting, Councillor Mafume said he fears the City of Harare might be heading into a storm given the way HMMAS is operating.

“At the last meeting I also indicated that we might need to look into HMMAS, the issue of the hospitals, the issues of how HMMAS is operating.

“We need authority to create a commission of inquiry in terms of Section 100 of our Act (Urban Councils Act).

“We need to look into that because my sense is we might be heading into a storm,” he said.

Recently, council learnt that workers were failing to access treatment yet they are on medical aid. Cllr Mafume said HMMAS bought properties it cannot account for and with no title deeds.

“It’s a bloated board structure of over 70 board members.  Some will see it as throwing money into a bottomless pit,” he said.

Cllr Mafume said HMMAS bought a 14-roomed clinic in Ruwa for over US$800 000.

“Where can you buy something in Ruwa for US$800 000?,” he queried.

Cllr Mafume said there are more issues that need to be dealt with regarding how HMMAS is structured.

He said HMMAS bought properties in Norton, Mukuvisi Woodlands and Ruwa but cannot account for the properties.

“Lots of money has gone down the drain,” said Cllr Mafume.

He said another clinic was bought in Glen Norah which is not operating at full capacity.

“So it’s a cocktail of issues that are bedevilling HMMAS and its inability to account,” said Cllr Mafume.

It is not clear how Cllr Mafume wants an inquiry into the HMMAS operations when there is already a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the City Harare.

The Justice Maphios Cheda-led commission is probing the City of Harare’s operations in their entirety including the businesses council runs wholly or as joint ventures with partners.