Zimbabwean authorities have arrested dozens of medical professionals and executives in a major crackdown on corruption within the Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS), the country’s largest medical insurance provider.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) announced that six PSMAS executives and 38 doctors were apprehended in 2023 on suspicion of defrauding the scheme. The doctors are accused of inflating bills and misusing tariff codes to siphon funds from PSMAS.
Anti-Corruption Efforts Target Medical Sector
Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) hosted an inter-agency breakfast meeting on Wednesday, where ZACC commissioner Gabriel Chaibva addressed the PSMAS case. He emphasized that the arrests were part of the anti-graft body’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption across all sectors.
“This case highlights the power of coordinated action in addressing corruption at all levels,” Chaibva said. He underscored the concerning prevalence of corruption in Zimbabwe, pointing to the country’s low score of 24 on the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Chaibva urged international cooperation in tackling corruption, calling on developed nations to prevent corrupt individuals from hiding stolen funds within their borders. He also highlighted the importance of retrieving misappropriated assets located overseas.
Joint Investigations Yield Results
The ZACC has collaborated with other Zimbabwean law enforcement agencies on several successful anti-corruption initiatives. A joint effort with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) led to the arrest of the PSMAS executives and doctors.
Another collaborative investigation with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) targeted abuse of the Civil Servants Motor Vehicle Rebate Scheme. This program allows civil servants with extended service to import vehicles duty-free. However, some individuals have exploited the scheme for personal gain by importing vehicles for others and selling them at inflated prices.
Following a tip from the Ministry of Finance, ZACC and ZIMRA launched a probe into the Civil Servants Motor Vehicle Rebate Scheme. The investigation is ongoing, but over 250 vehicles obtained through fraudulent means have already been recovered. More than 20,000 civil servants were investigated in 2023 for potentially abusing the scheme.
The Zimbabwean government’s anti-corruption efforts aim to restore public trust and ensure the proper allocation of resources. Moreover, the recent arrests within PSMAS and the Civil Servants Motor Vehicle Rebate Scheme demonstrate the country’s commitment to tackling corruption at various levels.
Source: New Zimbabwe
