Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
WORKERS at Premier Service Medical Investments (PSMI) who are camping at Parkview Hospital in Harare have implored the government to intervene and help restore operations at the private health institution whose clinics and hospitals have closed countrywide, with workers having gone for months without getting salaries.
The workers’ representatives from across the country who have been camped at Parkview hospital in Harare for almost a month demanding their salaries from October last year are blaming the company’s management and parent company, PSMAS, for looting funds from the subsidiary company and have since written a letter to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Vice President General Retired Dr Constantino Chiwenga for intervention.
“Instead of pushing our agenda to open they are pushing us to close because they don’t care about our welfare and that of the card holders, our management don’t care about our welfare,” said PSMI National workers committee Chairperson, Mr Munyaradzi Nharaunda.
“Most of us were thrown away from our homes that’s why we are camping here. It’s tough for us. Our directors do not even care. Funds were stolen by management and the board now we are appealing to the President and the Vice President to intervene so that we get our salaries and the clinics and hospitals can start operating.”
“We are appealing to the President. Our wish is to get medical attention for our families and our patients who have chronic conditions. We love our jobs and we are want to resume work we have gone for six months without salaries.
“The buildings are there the skilled labour is there, money is being deducted so there is hope. Hope is there but we don’t know the time frames, we want business continuity. Why are you closing the buildings? We are ready but what’s stopping us from opening because no one is looking at our welfare,” said Ms Maneta Dzauma, Middle management workers representative.
“The Government should intervene the corruption is too much and we know for sure that no investor is willing to come to our aid because the money will just be gobbled up and misused that’s why we are calling on the president and the vice president to intervene,” said Mr Daniel Zavirima, Chiredzi Workers representative.
Efforts to get a response from PSMI management were fruitless as their mobiles were not reachable.
In November last year, the government injected ZWL$4 billion into PSMAS to ensure smooth operations of the medical aid provider, but according to the workers, the bulk of the money went to thirteen executives’ salaries, while more than 2 300 workers were forced to share the reminder.
More than 150 clinics and hospitals under PSMI countrywide have closed shop, while the few left like the Parkview Renal Unit are being funded by patients who require dialysis services.