Gutu man to sue PSMAS

GUTU – A Gutu man intends to sue the Premier Services Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) and its Claims Manager for assault after the man was allegedly manhandled at the company’s Masvingo offices when he went there to claim reimbursement for medical expenses incurred by his father at Harare Hospital.

John Tanyaradzwa Machinya says he went to the offices in March to make the claims after his father, Kennedy Tapiwa Machinya, had received treatment at Harare Hospital. 

He was promised that a deposit would be made into his ZB Bank account which he later closed and accordingly gave PSMAS his new Standard Chartered Bank account number.

He says PSMAS asked him to provide his bank statement from the closed account as proof that no deposit had been made and he complied. 

However, John said no money was deposited into his new account and he visited the offices again last week to find out what was happening to his refund.

After getting an unsatisfactory response, John engaged the Claims Manager, Taurai Makore in his office to register his discontent.

“I made it clear to the manager that I suspected corruption in the organisation was the reason for the delays in the reimbursement of my funds and this angered Makore who then started loosening his tie.

“He charged towards me and I ducked but he managed to grab my neck and shoulders and pushed me into the reception area. He slapped me on the face and my eye glasses fell to the ground and got damaged,” John said.

After the fracas, John made a report at Masvingo Central Police Station they were both later fined $20 for disorderly behavior.

Now John says he wants to take the legal route and sue PSMAS and Makore in his personal capacity.

Asked for comment Makore admitted there had been a scuffle between him and John whom he accused of provocation as he boasted of being competent in martial arts.

He said he had tried to explain to Machinya that when payments are delayed clients had the option of approaching the branch manager for spot payment authorisations.

“He did not want to listen and I pushed him into the reception but I didn’t slap him,” said Makore.news