Key Milestones

  • Botswana Insurance Company formed as a 51% subsidiary of Botswana Development Corporation

  • Legislation passed to establish a central bank with the framework to govern financial institutions that will fall under its supervision.

  • Botswana Insurance Company sells its first life policy.

  • Botswana Insurance Company starts development of the country’s first major residential estate, Tapologo, on behalf of its life and pension funds.

  • The Insurance Industry Act of Botswana is promulgated, regulating all aspects of insurance in Botswana and requiring separate legal entities for the underwriting of long and short-term insurance businesses

  • Exchange control liberalised, permitting diversification of investments offshore. Botswana Insurance Company is restructured to separate its general insurance business and life insurance business.

  • BIHL acquires control of IGI Botswana Holdings Limited, which is delisted and restructured into BIHL which continues to handle short-term and long-term insurance.

  • African Life acquires a major shareholding in BIHL from Southern Life and Botswana Development Corporation.

  • In conjunction with the Botswana Accountancy College, Botswana Life launches insurance courses at the college with the company’s initial funding of the project matched by government. Botswana Life also funds 15 of the first 25 students to register for the Certificate course.

  • Botswana Life invests in Funeral Services Group to extend service to policyholders and their families at the time when they most need assistance.

  • Botswana Life introduces extended family funeral benefits and the option of automatic premium and benefit increases to counter inflation. Botswana Life launches Khumo 2016, which offers a savings benefit and the ability to select additional risk benefits as required. The product matures in 2016 to support the government’s plans to commemorate the country’s 50th anniversary.

  • The top management of BIHL and its subsidiaries is fully localised with Batswana. BIHL’s majority shareholder, African Life Assurance Company Limited, is acquired by Sanlam Limited. Established in 1918, Sanlam is a leading financial services group in South Africa, listed on the JSE Limited in Johannesburg and on the Namibian Stock Exchange.

  • Botswana Life launched three (3) new products - Mmoloki, Motlhokomedi and a Mortgage Protector Plan.

  • BIHL Board approves establishment of community development trust to address its Corporate Social Investment obligations. Botswana Life amongst other BIHL Group subsidiaries becomes the biggest donor to this CSI initiative called BIHL Trust.

  • BLIL launches the Bancassurance distribution channel.

  • Botswana Life implements a new web-based life administration system to improve efficiencies from the legacy system.

  • Botswana Life launches Liferewards, the first prepaid Visa card offered by an insurance company in Botswana and Africa, besides South Africa.

  • Botswana Life brings to a close Sekgantshwane 2014, a three-year corporate strategy aimed at positioning the company among the best life insurers globally. The company closes the year with a sterling financial performance and is awarded the Sanlam Emerging Markets Best Life Insurer award for 2014.

  • Botswana Life celebrates 40th anniversary and unveils a revamped corporate identity. The company also launches a new corporate strategy for the horizon 2015 to 2020.

  • Botswana Life launches three new products namely: Poelo Term Assurance, Isago Investment Plan and the Tapologo Retirement Annuity. In addition to that Botswana life launched it’s Affluent Service Centre which is the first of its kind in the Botswana Insurance Market.

  • Botswana Life launches Shariah compliant investment products as well as well as Poelo Whole Life.

  • The Classic Run Marathon, on its 25th anniversary gets all routes accredited by IAAF to become the first National qualifying marathon in the country. Renamed to Botswana Life Classic Run Half National Marathon.

  • Botswana Life introduces the ‘Botswana Life International Investment Plan’; A single premium investment product that invests offshore and affords the client the option to use Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) in managing their portfolios.

  • Botswana Life enhanced the Mmoloki Funeral Plan now called the Enhanced Mmoloki Funeral Plan

  • Botswana Life launches a high level 5 year Corporate strategy named Se, sarona

  • Botswana Life through the 2018 Classic Run National Half marathon proceeds sponsors Cancer Association Botswana (CAB) Executive Management on a skills transfer benchmarking drive with Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

  • Masika Otlhe is launched – This product covers extended family members without an option to cover nuclear (Immediate) family members. It offers an option of 5% or 10% premium escalation of per annum.

  • Botswana Life officially opens new branch in Rail Park Mall

  • Botswana Life Insurance Limited (Botswana Life) listed as the Fourth Most Admired Financial Services Brand in Botswana by Brand Africa 100

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