INSURANCE CERTIFICATE FRAUD WORRIES GOVT
Written by MRadio on March 28, 2022
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
FRAUD arising from forging insurance certificates has deprived Government of revenue and this can only be dealt with by designing and implementation of digital platforms, says Science and Technology Minister, Felix Mutati.
Continued fraud has deprived Government of revenue while uninsured vehicles on the roads, losses and failed compensations makes Government look irresponsible.
It is for this reason that Mr Mutati expressed concern at the rate of fraud arising from forging insurance certificates.
He said this recently at the launch of the Digital Insurance Motor Vehicle Certificate Project, hosted by Insurers Association of Zambia (IAZ).
“This is a smart and innovative solution as it is an integrated platform. From Government perspective, we expected your digital platform to enter the service platform so you are part of ourselves.
“We are going to eliminate fraud especially arising from forging insurance certificates as it has become a problem in the industry and it can only be dealt with by digital platform,” Mr Mutati said.
Government, he said, was working on various digital platforms that would ensure efficiency, reliable, transparency and accountability.
“Those are the ones we are designing and implementing as Government. This is to eliminate multiple contacts with Government ministries and departments as they create friction and inconvenience,” Mr Mutati said.
IAZ president, Moses Siame, said the new innovation would assist in resolving a number of long term challenges that traditionally would be difficulty to resolve.
Mr Siame said a number of these challenges had affected the bottom line, hampered outreach and in worst cases scenario deprived the industry of better returns.
This, he said, had ultimately impacted on the industry contribution to Government revenue.
“This initiative will therefore break the boundaries of distance as it will reach customers in any place that has connectivity.
“One leg of this initiative will be responding to Government’s vision of increased e-commerce that will in turn translate into less cash being used. A move for motor insurance services,” he said.
Pensions and Insurance Authority (PIA) acting Registrar, Kabisa Ngwira, said the system would complement the digital platforms currently run by various respective insurance providers.
Ms Ngwira said the digital motor insurance vehicle certificate system, had the potential to transform how motor insurance was delivered across the country.
“PIA has supported IAZ during the process of developing this new digital system,” she said in a speech read for her by the PIA Acting Manager Market Development Insurance Yizaso Musonda.
Financial Sector Deepening Zambia Chief Executive Officer, Betty Wilkinson, said the programme was designed to increase the uptake of motor vehicle insurance.
