13 Oct 2020

Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) has identified the need to establish a funeral cover for its members to ease things for grieving families.

Launching BTU’s Poloko Funeral Scheme in Gaborone on October 12, Minister of Employment Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Mpho Balopi applauded the organisation and its subsidiaries for coming up with an affordable and high quality initiative.

Mr Balopi said with such a product, one was assured of a comforter in times of need. 

He applauded the brains the behind the idea, saying that it did not only ensure high quality products and services, but it did so at affordable rates in the market.

“This is a welcome development that would relieve families financial woes in securing funeral services and it would also ensure that BTU as an important stakeholder of government continued to support government in helping Batswana to participate in an inclusive economy and job creation,” he said.

Mr Balopi further urged the union and its investment partners to continue developing products with the senses of richly contributing to the welfare of its workers and the general public.

For his part, the director of Poloko Funeral Scheme, Mr Ronald Ketshabe said the idea of a funeral scheme came after realising that BTU members and their families were subjected to unpleasant experiences when having to cover funeral costs.

“Funeral expenses have become exorbitant, therefore not  everyone can afford to arrange for a funeral of a family member as they had wished.

As such Poloko came in to alleviate such challenges at a nominal cost,” said Mr Ketshabe.

Mr Ketshabe added that the funeral scheme provided for, among others, caskets and mortuary services. 

The scheme provides cover for the main member, spouse, a maximum of six children as well as a maximum of four parents and not more than eight members of the extended family. 

“Poloko is not only meant for teachers. All organised groups in the public sector can also benefit from the funeral scheme,” said Mr Ketshabe. ENDS