23 Apr 2020

Leaders of the life insurance industry have made an assurance to the nation that the sector would continue to offer normal services to Batswana during the period of uncertainty owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

These assurances were made by Mr Ronald Samuel, the Botswana Life chief executive officer, who also serves as chairperson of the Association of Life Underwriters of Botswana (ALIB), Liberty Life Botswana managing mirector and ALIB vice chair, Ms Lulu Rasebotsa, as well as ALIB vice secretary and ABSA Life MD, Ms Motshabi Mokone..

The trio expressed these sentiments while addressing a press conference telecast on Botswana Television (BTV) in Gaborone this afternoon.

Ms Mokone said members of the sector, organised under ALIB and Insurance Industry Financial of Botswana, had agreed on measures to ensure that they continue providing regular services to clients during the period of lockdown and the state of emergency.

She said a premium relief of a three month payment holiday commencing April 1 would be provided by all major insurance companies towards all workers who would struggle to earn an income during the current period of sluggish economic activity.

Ms Mokone said this initial three month period would be evaluated over time and any extensions to cover the entire six month period of the state of emergency would be discussed if necessary. 

She said workers whose earning capacity had been affected by the current situation need to avail themselves to their insurance provider, furnish evidence that they were not able to pay their premiums at normal rates and they would be offered the three month payment holiday.

Ms Rasebotsa said the insurance companies had agreed that this period would not be one of competing against each other, but they would rather work together in solidarity with their clients in order to provide the best possible service they could render.

She said towards the end of February they had met as the country’s life underwriters and agreed on how to best protect their workers as well as the public. 

Measures included reducing the number of employees based at their offices in order to observe social distancing; having more employees work from home through the use of technology such as email and WhatsApp as well as the provision of  the requisite laptops and wifi to employees.

Mr Samuel added that measures had been put into place to offer financial support to their part time agents or brokers who worked through commission but are currently unable to access clients during this period. ENDS