Mamohlakola Letuka
METROPOLITAN Lesotho has increased its footprint in the country by opening yet another branch in Mohale’s Hoek as part of the insurance giant’s golden jubilee.
Since its establishment in 1967, the firm has evolved from simply providing funeral policies to offering wide variety of life insurance products including Life Insurance, Funeral Cover, Investments and Savings, Retirement Solutions and Healthcare solutions.
With the Mohale’s Hoek branch, Metropolitan now has a firm presence in eight of the country’s 10 districts with plans afoot to open a branch in the Thaba-Tseka district in the near future.
Speaking at the recent branch opening, Metropolitan Lesotho Managing Director, Nkau Matete, said before then they had mobile consultants in Mohale’s Hoek but they felt the time had come to establish an office.
He said this would eliminate the transport costs their clients endured traveling to Mafeteng to access services.
“In this instance of unemployment, expanding our services will also provide job creation,” he added.
Mr Matete said that Metropolitan had been in existence for the past 50 years, adding, “We are here to listen; we don’t just want to give clients what we have, but we are here to give them what they need”.
He said that as part of the golden jubilee celebrations, they would establish more branches throughout the country and attract new clients, particularly young people who had to be encouraged to invest for their future.
“People need to be smart in managing their finances and to know that anything can happen at any time.” He said.
He added that they faced the challenge of insurance fraud and urged stakeholders such as chiefs and district administrators to help overcome this challenge.
“Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. When people cheat insurance companies out of money, the honest people that pay premiums pay through increased insurance costs.
“You can help stop insurance fraud by whistleblowing to the department of insurance and giving as many details as you possibly can about the fraud that you witnessed or overheard,” he said.
For her part, Mohale’s Hoek chief, Malits’oanelo Bereng welcomed the opening of the new branch, saying it was testament of the growth of the town.