Low literacy levels hit growth of insurance

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 09:28:10 +0000

THE Insurers Association of Zambia (IAZ) has attributed the low insurance penetration in the country to the low literacy levels. According to the statistics by the Insurers Association of Zambia, only 2.8 percent of the total adult population in Zambia are insured whilst about 42 percent have no idea about insurance. IAZ consumer education and information officer Kambole Chituwo said lack of adequate sensitization and education on insurance has contributed to the poor insurance culture among Zambians. “The insurance uptake in Zambia has to be a challenge.

We only have 2.8 adults who have taken insurance in the country. About 42 percent according to the Finscope survey of those who do not use insurance said they have never heard about it. “So already the first challenge is that people do not have the knowledge; education is actually the first issue when it comes to insurance awareness,” he said. Mr. Chituwo has, however, called for accelerated consumer sensitization to realise the full benefits that come with insurance.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the on-going Media Master Class on Economic and Financial Literacy Training organised by the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research and Financial Sector Deepening Zambia.