E5.9 MILLION FREE FUNERAL COVER FOR THE POOR

MANZINI – It’s a sigh of relief for MPs as sponsorship worth E5.9 million has been availed to legislators for them to each facilitate the burial of 20 members of destitute families in their constituencies.

This sponsorship literally relieves 59 elected Members of Parliament (MPs) the burden of being undertakers, in their various constituencies. It, however, excludes the four regionally elected women legislators.

The sponsorship is courtesy of United Life Assurance, a division of United Holdings Group of Companies. It is a 100 per cent locally owned company and is responsible for all the insurance business which was overseen by Dups Holdings.
The policy was launched yesterday.

Nelisiwe De Souza, the Chief Executive Officer of United Holdings Group of Companies, launched the Tinkhundla Funeral Cover Sponsorship, wherein her entity sponsored the 59 constituencies in the country to the tune of E5.9 million.

Supporting her was Philip Lobengula De Souza – her husband and Executive Director of the company. This happened at The George Hotel, Manzini, where the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, was the guest speaker.  Among those present were Cabinet ministers in Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Harries Madze Bulunga and the Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala.

Also, there was the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Petros Mavimbela, MPs and representatives of the United Holdings Group of Companies executive.
When launching the sponsorship, De Souza said each constituency originating MP shall get access to funeral cover for 20 members of their constituency which shall be valued at E5 000 per person.

“Our sponsorship to this initiative is that of 60 months of the sponsorship duration; the benefiting member and the MP shall not be paying any premium. The period of sponsorship cover commences April 1, 2019 and shall expire in 2023.”
The CEO said United Life Assurance shall donate the premiums to ensure that the client was covered. A premium within this funeral cover is E11 per person. When computing this, it amounts to E100 000 per constituency. Once the five-year period lapses, De Souza said: “It is expected thereafter that the MPs shall then take this sponsorship funeral cover and ensure it is sustained.”
The businesswoman said her entity believed such a sponsorship was sowing a seed into the communities and would make a difference in the lives of many members.
She said her company had achieved all its success because of the contribution by the public. De Souza said the plight of the poor had brought about the need for the sponsorship.
“We cannot cover every member of the community for free. We expect members of the communities who are not selected in the list of 20 people to sign up on their own to ensure they are covered.”
The entrepreneur emphasised that the sponsorship would be championed by the legislators. Such news was welcomed with a round of applause, ululation and appreciation by the MPs.
The Speaker said many legislators were indebted to micro-lenders and banks following loans they secured to assist the destitute when they needed to bury their loved ones.
He emphasised that those who were willing to be in Parliament for consecutive terms should take the insurance policy. In the same breath, Mavimbela applauded the generosity extended by the Minister of Tinkhundla David Ngcamphalala, who upon learning of the great benefits brought about by this entity  made sure that they were also involved.
“I have already phoned my constituency councillor to request that he sets up a meeting with community health givers so that we could identify the destitute,” Mavimbela said.
The Speaker further advised the MPs to lead the way when recruiting constituents as delegating the task could be to their detriment come 2023. He further pleaded with the legislators to support the initiative as it was local company.

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