News / National
Ex-Zipra war vet gets ZiG200 funeral payout
19 May 2024 at 07:38hrs | Views
A former Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (Zipra) veteran based in Bulawayo, who participated in the liberation struggle, has accused a prominent insurance broker of offering inadequate funeral payouts despite years of paying premiums in foreign currency.
Godfrey Mlalazi claimed that Progressive Insurance Brokers (PIB), which serves many war veterans, offered him only ZiG200 and US$50 for funeral cover after he had been paying premiums since February 2013. Despite paying US$20 per month for 11 years, covering all beneficiaries including his mother-in-law, Mlalazi was dismayed by the meager payout when his mother-in-law passed away on May 9.
Struggling to get assistance from PIB's offices in Bulawayo, Mlalazi faced difficulties arranging the funeral until discovering that his brother-in-law had a separate funeral policy. Despite visiting PIB offices repeatedly, he encountered officials who seemed evasive before finally being offered the inadequate payout.
When contacted, a PIB representative in Bulawayo, Collet Maduma, confirmed Mlalazi's visit but claimed that the system did not show his contributions in US dollars. Maduma directed Mlalazi to the claims office or the head office in Harare for assistance.
However, Mlalazi contested the representative's claims, stating that the funeral parlour (whose name was supplied) dismissed PIB's assertions and clarified that PIB was merely a broker providing services after contractual obligations were met.
Disappointed by the ZiG200 and US$50 payout, which was insufficient even for a tombstone for his mother-in-law, Mlalazi regretted remaining with PIB while other war veterans switched to alternative funeral insurance providers. Despite being major clients, Mlalazi criticized PIB's inadequate service.
Godfrey Mlalazi claimed that Progressive Insurance Brokers (PIB), which serves many war veterans, offered him only ZiG200 and US$50 for funeral cover after he had been paying premiums since February 2013. Despite paying US$20 per month for 11 years, covering all beneficiaries including his mother-in-law, Mlalazi was dismayed by the meager payout when his mother-in-law passed away on May 9.
Struggling to get assistance from PIB's offices in Bulawayo, Mlalazi faced difficulties arranging the funeral until discovering that his brother-in-law had a separate funeral policy. Despite visiting PIB offices repeatedly, he encountered officials who seemed evasive before finally being offered the inadequate payout.
When contacted, a PIB representative in Bulawayo, Collet Maduma, confirmed Mlalazi's visit but claimed that the system did not show his contributions in US dollars. Maduma directed Mlalazi to the claims office or the head office in Harare for assistance.
However, Mlalazi contested the representative's claims, stating that the funeral parlour (whose name was supplied) dismissed PIB's assertions and clarified that PIB was merely a broker providing services after contractual obligations were met.
Disappointed by the ZiG200 and US$50 payout, which was insufficient even for a tombstone for his mother-in-law, Mlalazi regretted remaining with PIB while other war veterans switched to alternative funeral insurance providers. Despite being major clients, Mlalazi criticized PIB's inadequate service.
Source - newsday
