Ambulance syndicate bleeds Harare City Council dry

A group of allegedly corrupt paramedics employed by the Harare City Council (HCC) is under investigation for siphoning thousands of dollars through underhand dealings that involve pocketing ambulance fees meant for the local authority.

Investigations initiated after a tip-off from sources familiar with the operations indicate that some paramedics have been collecting ambulance fees directly from patients and failing to remit the money to the council. Under standard arrangements, HCC charges about US$30 per patient for a single ambulance trip, a rate that is generally lower than those charged by private operators.

However, many patients who rely on council ambulances are often cash-strapped and unable to pay the full amount upfront. Taking advantage of this vulnerability, the paramedics allegedly persuade patients to pay a reduced fee, which is not officially receipted. Although council policy allows patients to receive ambulance services and settle their bills later, investigators say the provision is being manipulated for personal gain.

After receiving the negotiated cash payment, which is usually far less than the standard US$30, the paramedics are alleged to generate fictitious receipts bearing false names and addresses. These are then submitted to the council as proof of unpaid debts. When HCC claims teams later attempt to follow up on these accounts, they encounter non-existent debtors, making recovery impossible.

The scandal came to light after several unsuspecting residents were contacted by the council and told they owed money for ambulance services they never received. This has raised serious concerns about accountability, record-keeping and oversight within the HCC ambulance service.

Under normal procedures, patients who fail to clear their ambulance bills within a stipulated period are pursued by the council through debt collectors. However, the fraudulent scheme has resulted in innocent residents being wrongly accused of defaulting on payments, causing distress and anxiety.

One Waterfalls resident, Chiratidzo Hungwe, said council officials visited her home looking for a woman named Vimbai, who was allegedly owed US$30 for ambulance services received four months earlier. Hungwe said no one by that name lived at the residence and no ambulance services had ever been used by her household.

In another case from Glen View, a man identified only as Marshal fell ill and was referred from a local clinic to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital. His family called an HCC ambulance and paid US$20, intending to settle the remaining US$10 later, but were never issued with a receipt. Months later, the family was contacted by the council and threatened with debt collectors unless they paid US$30. Without proof of payment, they eventually paid the full amount again.

A similar ordeal was faced by 57-year-old Gracia Ngwerume of Epworth, who called an HCC ambulance when her daughter-in-law experienced complications during the third trimester of pregnancy. Ngwerume paid US$18 and later visited the council offices to clear the balance, only to be told that the receipt she had been given was counterfeit.

The revelations have exposed not only the vulnerability of patients during medical emergencies but also serious integrity issues within the HCC ambulance service, which currently operates five ambulances that each respond to about 12 calls per day.

Investigations have further revealed that some paramedics are allegedly siphoning fuel from ambulances. The fuel is reportedly drained and sold to motorists at discounted prices, with fraudulent receipts generated to indicate that the fuel was used for transporting patients. Authorities believe the scheme is run by a criminal network involving several paramedics whose identities have been withheld.

Internal investigations are now underway following numerous reports from within the paramedic department. Preliminary findings suggest the involvement of a larger syndicate, sustained by internal cover-ups and failure to verify receipts, names and addresses.

The financial impact on the local authority has been severe. An insider said HCC's monthly ambulance revenue has plunged from an average of US$20 000 to less than US$1 500. This translates to about US$18 000 per year instead of a potential US$240 000.

A source in the administration department said the situation had worsened despite the recent acquisition of three new ambulances, which were expected to boost service delivery and revenue. Instead, the source said, paramedics allegedly take turns to steal, submitting bogus receipts that are only discovered during follow-ups.

Another source said some receipts contain fake names and forged addresses, while others are entirely counterfeit. The syndicates allegedly protect one another by failing to hold colleagues accountable for incomplete or suspicious documentation.

HCC divisional medical officer and head of ambulance services, Dr Elliot Muchena, said the council could not rule out misconduct and malfeasance, describing the alleged activities as fraud. He confirmed that several paramedics had previously lost their jobs over similar allegations.

Dr Muchena said the council would conduct thorough investigations and would not hesitate to involve law enforcement agencies where wrongdoing is established. He warned that such activities could severely damage public trust in the city's emergency medical services.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious conduct, adding that patients who knowingly collude with paramedics to defraud the council would be treated as accomplices.

Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that fraud is a serious criminal offence prosecuted under Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. He said cases are handled by the Commercial Crimes Division or the CID Serious Frauds Section, depending on their complexity.

"Fraud is a very serious offence. Once we receive a report, we act quickly. No one is above the law," said Commissioner Nyathi, adding that arrests would be made once cases are formally opened. The law provides for sentences of up to 35 years, depending on factors such as the amount involved, planning and breach of trust.