Dr Douglas Mombeshora who was acting Minister of Health when he took the decision compelling the PSMAS board to hold an extraordinary general meeting.
Senior Reporter
The Health and Child Care Ministry has reversed an earlier decision compelling the Premier Service Medical Aid Society board to hold an extraordinary general meeting this week.The earlier decision was taken by Acting Health Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora but was reversed barely 24 hours later upon the return of the substantive minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa, who had been outside the country.
This is the second time in two weeks that the Health Ministry has reversed an order for the society to hold an EGM. It initially ordered the board to call an EGM on January 28 but on January 29, the same ministry wrote to PSMAS withdrawing that directive.
Yesterday, Secretary for Health Dr Gerald Gwinji said they had overlooked key players in coming up with the decision to hold an EGM this week.
“We realised that there is need for further consultations within Government itself before a date is given for an EGM such as considerations from staff associations,” Dr Gwinji said.
He said, for example, that civil servants had not been consulted. However, the Apex Council — an association of all civil servants’ unions — had already publicly called for an EGM. Dr Gwinji said the Wednesday deadline the ministry gave PSMAS to provide a date for the EGM no longer stood. Dr Gwinji said they could not give a specific new time-line at present but would ensure the matter was treated with urgency.
Revelations of huge packages paid to top PSMAS executives prompted the Ministry of Health and Child Care to investigate the society’s financial affairs.
Board chair Mrs Meisie Namasasu was fired and group chief executive Dr Cuthbert Dube was retired. Businessman Mr Luxon Zembe was appointed chair while Dr Farai Muchena is acting group CEO.