Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) has unveiled a new group life assurance cover called ‘Bonela Pele Mmereki’ in partnership with a local indigenous underwriter Bona Life Botswana.
Speaking during its launch in Tsabong on Friday January 27, BOPEU president, Ms Masego Mogwera said the new offering was designed to assist members to prepare for funerals through ‘Bonela Pele Mmereki’ which guaranteed that their dependents and beneficiaries were cared for in the event that the principal member died.
“This product is affordable and provides a pay-out of P200 000 upon death or permanent disability for just P70 per month,” she said.
She said the outbreak of Covid-19 had been a difficult period claiming many lives which left many dependents in destitution.
To remedy the situation, Babereki Insurance Brokers (BIB) were thus instructed to design a custom-made insurance product to ensure that BOPEU member’s dependents were not left in the lurch in the event of the death of a breadwinner.
“This product has been designed to meet specific needs of our members and we are proud to unveil it today,” she said.
Further, BOPEU president asserted that the union reviewed and restructured contributions targeted at easing life for members.
The existing funeral policies have been upgraded. Funeral cover for principal member has been P30 000, but has now been increased to P60 000.
Furthermore, funeral cover for a principal member’s children, which was at a ceiling of P20 000 has been increased to P50 000.
In the past principal member’s children were covered up to 21 years and the cover has been reviewed to cover adult children up to the age of 35.
Meanwhile, she said, extended family members funeral covers have also been reviewed, where a member’s parents who used to be covered with up to P20 000 shall now be covered with up to P50 000.
She highlighted that all extended family members shall be covered with the same contribution amount irrespective of age and shall also be covered with up to P50 000.
The developments, she said, would be enjoyed beginning this month henceforth. “You will begin to notice reduced contribution deductions in your pay slips as dependents will no longer be charged according to age,” she said.
Ms Mogwera stated that ‘Bonela Pele Mmereki’ was a collaboration between BOPEU, BIB, and Bona Life Botswana.
“I am confident that this collaboration will lead to great success for all parties involved and for the benefit of all BOPEU members,” she said.
BIB chief executive officer Mr Era Maseko said, “we are living in times where there are a lot of dynamics in conducting business coupled with the high expectations of our customers, thus it is imperative to ensure that we rise to the occasion and deliver products and services that are aligned to the needs of the end users,” he said.
He buttressed the need for BOPEU members to register for Bonela Pele Mmereki Group Life Assurance as a group or as organisations as having good numbers would enable them to get lower prices as compared to when they purchased as individuals.
For her part, Bona Life CEO Ms Phatsimo Keakabetse said as the first indigenous life insurance company owned by BOPF they were chartering a new path, adding that the money would circulate within the country as opposed to offshore.
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