Ambulance Fee Scandal Hits Harare City Council

A group of paramedics employed by the Harare City Council (HCC) is reportedly under investigation for allegedly pocketing thousands of dollars in ambulance fees meant for the council.

The paramedics reportedly collect payments directly from patients but fail to remit the money to the council.

A standard council ambulance trip is charged at around US$30, while private operators charge slightly more.

Many patients who rely on council ambulances are often cash-strapped and unable to pay the full amount upfront.

Allegedly, the corrupt paramedics take advantage of this by accepting reduced fees, which are not properly receipted, and then creating fictitious receipts under false names and addresses to submit to the council.

Council policy allows patients to settle ambulance fees at a later date if they cannot pay immediately. However, the paramedics are reportedly manipulating this system for personal gain. The fake receipts have caused problems when the council attempts to follow up on outstanding debts.

The scandal came to light after several residents were contacted by the HCC and informed they owed money for ambulance services they never received. Normally, unpaid fees are pursued by the council through debt collectors after a specified period.

Speaking to The Sunday Mail, Chiratidzo Hungwe from Waterfalls revealed how they were falsely accused of owing the local authority for services not rendered. She said:

“I was shocked when the council visited us in Waterfalls looking for a patient named Vimbai.

“They claimed Vimbai lived at our residence and owed US$30 for ambulance services she supposedly received four months ago.

“But we do not know anyone by that name, and no one at our home received ambulance services.”

In Glen View, Marshal fell ill and, after visiting a local clinic, was referred to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital.

With limited funds, his family called a Harare City Council ambulance and paid US$20 upfront, intending to pay the remaining US$10 later, but they were never issued a receipt. Said Marshal’s wife:

“We were emotionally disturbed by the sudden illness, and due to the stress, no one followed up on the receipt.

“To our surprise, the HCC later contacted us demanding we pay a US$30 debt or risk having debt collectors attach our property.”

Without a receipt, Marshal’s family had no way to dispute the claim and eventually paid the full US$30.

Gracia Ngwerume, 57, from Epworth, faced a similar ordeal. She called a Harare City Council ambulance when her daughter-in-law experienced complications in the third trimester of her pregnancy.

Ngwerume paid US$18 upfront, intending to settle the remaining balance later. But when she visited the council to clear the payment, she was told her receipt was counterfeit.

Some paramedics are also reportedly siphoning fuel from the ambulances. The criminal network, led by paramedics whose names have been identified by authorities but withheld publicly, allegedly drains fuel and sells it at discounted prices to motorists.

To cover up the theft, they reportedly create fake receipts using false names and addresses, claiming the fuel was used for patient transport.

Internal investigations are now underway following numerous reports from the paramedic department.

Preliminary findings suggest the problem may involve a wider syndicate, enabled by cover-ups and a failure to perform basic checks.

An insider revealed that instead of the usual US$20,000 the council earned monthly from ambulance services, revenue has plummeted to less than US$1,500 — roughly US$18,000 a year instead of a potential US$240,000.