Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Business Hub
CELEBRATING its 80th Anniversary at a colourful event, the Medical Aid Society of Central Africa (MASCA) brought together generations of members, alumni and distinguished guests on Wednesday evening in Bulawayo.
The evening was a vibrant tribute to eight decades of community impact, featuring speeches honouring a legacy built on resilience and vision as well as a look toward the future.
Guest of honour, Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart, in his keynote address said the celebration was a milestone.
“This is an anniversary of 80 years of MASCA’s service to families, workers, and enterprises across Zimbabwe. On behalf of the City of Bulawayo, I bring warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations on reaching this proud anniversary.
“80 years is more than a number. It is a living archive of resilience, innovation and community. Since 1945, MASCA has navigated shifting economies, evolving health needs and the rapid transformation of medicine and technology,” he said.
He said through it all, the medical aid society has kept its compass fixed on a simple, powerful idea, which is access to dignified healthcare for ordinary people.
The mayor said the celebration falls during Customer Service Week, fittingly themed “Mission: Possible,” while as a city, they love that phrase.
“Bulawayo was built by people who refused to accept that progress was impossible. We grew a manufacturing hub from the dust, taught craftsmanship to generations, and kept our cultural spirit alive through music, sports and festivals. “Mission: Possible” is not a slogan; it is our DNA.”
He commended MASCA’s leadership and teams, past and present, who have made the mission possible: the board for steady governance, management for operational discipline, the claims, contact centre, and pharmacy teams for day-in, day-out excellence.
As well as the provider network and brokers for partnership and critically, their members, whose trust has been MASCA’s licence to operate for eight decades.
The mayor said: “As the City of Bulawayo, we see healthcare not as a cost centre but as a social and economic infrastructure. When people can access primary care, medication, and emergency services, they are more productive at work, more present at home, and more hopeful in their communities.”
He said medical aid funds, such as MASCA, are part of the quiet engine that keeps the city moving, supporting clinics and hospitals, investing in pharmacy supply chains and creating jobs for skilled professionals.
Looking ahead, the Mayor said three priorities stand out where MASCA and the city can continue to collaborate for the good of the people. “First, prevention and wellness. The best claim is the one we never need to make. From hypertension and diabetes screening to vaccination advocacy and mental wellness, a strong prevention agenda saves families money and saves lives. I commend MASCA for offering free blood pressure and sugar checks this week,” he said.
“Let us harness that energy: hosting pop-up wellness days in high-traffic spaces, forming partnerships with schools and churches and launching data-driven community health campaigns that target the conditions affecting us most.”
Secondly, he said affordability and transparency were key in challenging economic times and value matters, while thirdly, he said local health ecosystem growth plays a critical role as Bulawayo’s health sector is poised for innovative partnerships, including clinic refurbishments, telehealth pilots, emergency response upgrades and training for nurses, pharmacists, and data clerks.
The Mayor said MASCA’s history teaches that consistency beats intensity and thanked the partners and sponsors for standing with the organisation.
“Please continue to invest, as your support helps make affordable healthcare a reality and keeps our city’s healthcare economy vibrant. Strong organisations are built on honest conversations. Health is news, not only when there is a crisis, but when there is quiet progress worth celebrating.
“Let us also renew a simple pledge: that no Bulawayo resident should be left behind for lack of information, access, or dignity in care. With MASCA at 80, this mission is not only possible, it is already underway,” he said.
MASCA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Douglas Bramsen said for 80 years they have been going strong with other medical aids that started almost the same time as them such as Cimas and Premier Services which started a few years earlier than them at the time.
“The whole objective is in the name of what a medical society is. It’s all about the society, to me that is the key issue. It’s about working through decades with society, the workers and businesses to give medical support.
“As a result of that we work together not only with the people but also the people who are helping them such as the health professionals, the pharmacists, the doctors, hospitals, physiotherapists and nurses, among others,” he said.
He said they were also supporting not only private initiatives but Government initiatives as well as they gave a whole lot of different products available for different levels of the working population.
Mr Bramsen said they had the Combo package, Supermasca, Principal Chronic, Principal Family, Principal Basic, Standard, Select, Hospital Clinic, Essential Core and Student Plans.
“We have a range of schemes offering it to firms but also offering it to different families. We are currently trying to expand into the informal sector as well as we want to try and get more Zimbabweans covered, the country has a population of 14 to 16 million,” he added.
“We only have 1 to 2 million people covered by private healthcare. The Government has an initiative of national health to come in and we hope to be able to work closely with them to provide a basic as well as an affordable solution.”
He said they were also working with mobile networks operators to develop a pay as you go health scheme, while working on a lot of different products to get more Zimbabweans to afford to have cover.
Mr Bramsen said they were looking ahead to a future driven by partnership, digital transformation and a renewed commitment to our members.
“I am reminded that our journey is far from over. In many ways, it is just beginning. With the same faith and teamwork that brought us here, we will continue to make our mission possible — one member, one partnership, one provider and one innovation at a time.”
He commended their sponsors – Econet Life, Prognosis, Supermed and Halsted’s Aviation Corporation (HAC) for their support that not only made the event possible, but continues to strengthen the foundation upon which MASCA is rebuilding and redefining itself.
MASCA Board Chairman, Mr Ioakeem Kehayias said as a Board, their commitment has been to ensure that MASCA remains sustainable, compliant and competitive in a fast-changing environment.
“We have strengthened governance structures, reviewed benefit options, and embraced technology to improve efficiency and transparency for our members. Over the past year, MASCA has introduced new and value-adding benefits that respond directly to our members’ needs and evolving lifestyles.
“Among these are the HAC Medical Evacuation Service, which provides critical support in medical emergencies, the Hospital Cash Back Benefit, which offers financial relief during hospitalisation and the Funeral Cover Benefit, designed to bring dignity and peace of mind during moments of loss,” he said.
“These benefits reflect our ongoing promise to deliver healthcare that not only heals but also supports, protects, and reassures. As we look to the future, our focus remains clear. We will continue to strengthen our service delivery, enhance digital accessibility for members and deepen partnerships with both the public and private sectors.”
He said they envision a MASCA that continues to lead with empathy, agility and innovation as well as a MASCA that will still be serving generations to come.
Mr Kehayias said the City of Bulawayo holds a special place in MASCA’s story, a city of heritage, heart and resilience, while it was fitting that they celebrate the milestone among people who truly understand endurance and community spirit.
“Great institutions are not built overnight. They are built over time through service, trust and a shared belief in something greater than ourselves.”
MASCA Chief Finance Officer (CFO), Ms Tashinga Chimuti said the celebration was more than a milestone — it was a statement of survival and renewal. “This year’s global customer appreciation week theme, “Mission: Possible”, is very befitting for us as MASCA. It not only reflects our belief that progress despite hardship is achievable, but also our determination to make it happen, together.”
She said the medical aid sector had its challenges and has an organisation they had gone from a membership average of about 17 000 members per annum to 15 000 members, however, they were still surviving.
Ms Chimuti said currently the greatest challenge was cost of healthcare and their vision was shaped around containing it as well as expanding. “Right now we have realised that relying on contributions income alone is not the best because when the turbulence comes you might not then be able to balance your members need.
“So our vision is to try to step out of conservative medical aid which is largely dependent on contributions income of its members to a hybrid approach where yes we have the classic schemes but also have new schemes,” she added.
She said they were partnering with various organisations to come up with joint products that are friendlier for the small families and the informal sector as well.
Ms Chimuti said they want to become one of those medical aids that does not focus on the old approach as they balance medical aid with a medical solution where they have got products for the small to medium enterprises (SMEs) as well.
She said: “We are even thinking of partnering with medical service providers which is also new because other medical aids get into service provision themselves we are avoiding that because we want to maintain that flexibility for our members. We will also be partnering more with laboratories, pharmacies and hospitals among others.
The event ended on a high note filled with filled with a celebratory spirit, music, laughter and joy.
Londile Moyo