PSMAS board defies Govt

Paidamoyo Chipunza Health Reporter—
THE Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) board has defied a Government directive to reinstate suspended managing director Mr Henry Mandishona and will proceed with his disciplinary hearing. In a statement yesterday, PSMAS board chairman Mr Jeremiah Bvirindi said following a recent court application by the medical aidsociety’s Bulawayo-based member Mr Emmanuel Jevane Mwale, they had rescinded their earlier decision to reinstate Mr Mandishona as ordered by the Government.

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He said the decision to reinstate Mr Mandishona made at a board meeting on October 20 was reversed when the board met in Mutare on Monday.

“Following events that took place after the board’s sitting on 20 October 2015, particularly the court action taken by Mr Emmanuel Jevane Mwale — a society member under case number HC2778/2015 — the board hereby rescinds the position it took at the meeting of the 20th October 2015 aforesaid and now resolves to proceed with the disciplinary proceedings currently under way against the society’s managing director, Mr Henry Mandishona,” said Mr Bvirindi.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Mr Mandishona shall remain on suspension under the same terms and conditions as contained in the board chairman’s letter to him dated 4 September 2015 until the disciplinary proceedings referred to in paragraph 1 above are brought to finality.” It is not yet clear when Mr Mandishona is expected to appear before the disciplinary hearing.

A fortnight ago, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa and his Public Service Labour and Social Welfare counterpart Prisca Mupfumira ordered PSMAS to reinstate Mr Mandishona.

In a joint statement, the two ministers said the charges against Mr Mandishona could be addressed by a neutral arbitrator while he was at work. “As Government Ministers with a Cabinet mandate to diligently dispose of our duties, we envision a new PSMAS with a board management that is able to map and chart a new path for the society,” the ministers said.

“We commit ourselves to be more vigilant watchdogs of this new PSMAS. We encourage (the) board and management to join their expertise, experience and knowledge to bring this new vision to fruition.” The ministers’ interference in re-directing actions by a board of a private institution before completion of a disciplinary hearing sparked debate across different health stakeholders.

This resulted in Mwale suing both the board and the ministers for failing the society’s members. Mr Mandishona was sent on forced leave at the beginning of last month pending investigations into his conduct. His charges include derailing work done by the society’s interim management led by Dr Gibson Mhlanga who is from the Ministry of Health and Child Care by awarding himself a salary above the agreed limit.

It is further alleged that Mr Mandishona awarded two heads of department — Mr Farai Jemwa of human resources and head of finance Mr Eliah Madondo both of whom he recruited recently — salaries that were above the prescribed limit, against the society’s transformation process to contain costs.

Mr Mandishona is also facing allegations of forging documents and abuse of office through actions such as misrepresenting the board’s position to stakeholders and awarding himself unapproved allowances. It is understood that in some instances he would write letters to stakeholders and sign off as if they were coming from the board.

Mr Mandishona was appointed into office on May 1 this year after PSMAS members agreed to abolish the post of group chief executive officer at an Annual General Meeting held in Harare. He had only served for four months at the helm of the society after previously serving as human resources director for the society’s investment arm, the Premier Service Medical Investments (PSMI).