Staff Writer 
His Grace The Revend Dr B.E Lekganyane’s Z.C.C Has Introduced A Payment Holiday To Support Its Members During Lockdown.
On 31 March 2020, the Botswana President Dr Mogweetsi Masisi announced the declaration of a national state of emergency as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. A 28 day nationwide lockdown was then enforced by Government and was subsequently extended by a further week. At time of writing, the current lockdown period in Botswana is in effect from 2 April 2020 to 7 May 2020 with subsequent easing planned thereafter.
Kganya Botswana is acutely aware of the consequences that the lockdown period may have had on Pukwana ya Kganya policyholders. Specifically, and while Kganya Botswana and Botswana Life have been able to continue certain critical operations, customers may have been unable to pay their monthly Contributions and Premiums in cash at their Church branches over the lockdown period.
SUPPORTING PUKWANA YA KGANYA POLICYHOLDERS
Kganya Botswana was created with the main purpose of developing and servicing insurance related products within ZCC in Botswana.
Pukwana ya Kganya was established at the behest of His Grace Bishop Dr BE Lekganyane and offered to members to reduce financial stress in unforeseen situations. In the case of Pukwana ya Kganya, this relates to death and permanent disability.
Policyholders in Good Standing covered under this policy should have the comfort of knowing that they will be secure in their time of utmost need. Given the current uncertainty, we believe that Kganya Botswana’s mandate has become even more important.
We wish to categorically confirm that Kganya Botswana and Botswana Life have taken all necessary steps to ensure that their operations remain uninterrupted and that policyholders will continue to have access to the Benefits available under this product. Kganya firmly intends delivering on its commitment to His Grace and the ZCC congregation at large.
We therefore wish to advise policyholders of the following initiatives that have been undertaken. These initiatives have been executed not only to ensure the continuous provision of certain services but also to support customers during these difficult times.
KGANYA BOTSWANA SERVICE CENTRES
Botswana Life branches and Kganya Botswana Service Centres will remain open during office hours throughout the lockdown period. Policyholders and their beneficiaries are advised to submit all Pukwana ya Kganya claims for assessment and not to withhold any claims because of any missed payments.
KGANYA BOTSWANA SERVICE CENTRE MANAGERS
Our Kganya Botswana Service Centre Managers remain available during the lockdown to all policyholders on the following numbers. This for the purposes of handling any product or claim related queries. Please note that our Service Centre Managers may experience higher than normal call volumes.
Gaborone: +267 319 0139
Francistown: +267 242 1004
Selibe Phikwe: +267 261 0046
PUKWANA YA KGANYA CONTRIBUTIONS AND PREMIUMS
Understandably, customers are concerned that insurance Benefits will not be available at time of possible claim due to forced non-payment of their Pukwana ya Kganya Contributions and Premiums at Church branches during April 2020. Rest assured, we as Kganya have been working tirelessly towards solutions in support of policyholders.
In conjunction with ZCC and Botswana Life, we are pleased to inform existing Pukwana ya Kganya customers of a newly established CONTRIBUTION AND PREMIUM HOLIDAY.
A Contribution and Premium Holiday has been instituted to ensure that no existing Pukwana ya Kganya policyholder will be prejudiced as a result of being unable to make payment at their Church branch during the April 2020 lockdown period. Essentially, ZCC will pay Contributions and Premiums on behalf of policyholders who were unable to do so from 2 April 2020 to 30 April 2020 and who need their claims honoured. This temporary relief is seen as a way of assisting the many loyal customers that have supported Kganya Botswana over the years. Furthermore, there will be no need for any customer to “back pay” any missed April 2020 Contribution and Premium.
Contribution and Premium Holidays will apply differently to the various underlying Pukwana ya Kganya Benefits. As such we have outlined rules which will apply to any claimable incidents taking place in May 2020. Please do take the time to read and understand these temporary rules listed below.
Kindly note that arrangements regarding Church gatherings as well as monthly Contribution and Premium payments after the lockdown period has ended are Church related matters and you will be advised by your Church Committees accordingly. Kganya Botswana cannot intervene in these matters in any way. You should, however, endeavour to continue your monthly Pukwana ya Kganya payments as soon as you are able to. Not doing so may jeopardise your Good Standing in the months that follow the end of the lockdown period when normal rules will again apply.
We wish you peace, safety and good health during this time and trust that these measures will be of some relief to you.