Key Messages

• Legal insurance can transform lives 
• Partnering with the youth to build a more aware Botswana 
• Several youth-targeted initiatives underway in 2023

Legal Guard Managing Director, Kgomotso Ratlhaga is determined to drive education and raise awareness regarding legal insurance in Botswana. Ratlhaga recognizes the potential of the industry and how much impact it can have on the lives of people and the local economy. 

“The Botswana insurance market currently has a low penetration rate and the legal insurance uptake is at approximately 5%, which is incredibly low. This is unfortunate because the law is the only force that is recognized and regarded worldwide. It is critical for the youth to be aware of the rules that govern them. We seek, not only to teach the youth about the Penal Code, the Constitution, Deeds registries, Sectional Titles Regulations and Companies Acts etc., we seek also to introduce them to legal insurance as a whole. As Legal Guard, we pride ourselves in being active in client and public education in our efforts to sensitize Batswana on the services we offer, their significance, the law, how insurance works and the need for access to a lawyer,” Ratlhaga said.

Approximately 70% of Botswana’s population is under the age of 35 years. This population is plagued with countless legal challenges in their workplaces, at schools, in their rental properties or in their family settings that they endure due to unawareness. Legal insurance provides access to affordable legal aid when the need arises, it gives exposure to various qualified lawyers and is a one-stop shop for legal issues. 

“Legal Guard offers will-drafting and estate planning services. The youth could spearhead and mediate in these conversations. The cars they buy, the clothes and the furniture they have, where will they go should anything happen to them? They also need to have tough conversations with their parents notifying them about existing debts and family estates. Batswana do not draft wills because of fear that they are indirectly calling death upon themselves. The effects of giving in to this fear are broken homes and injustices that are unfathomable. I strongly urge Batswana to overcome this fear and draft wills. It does not matter how small or how few your assets are, if they are not distributed accordingly, they could cause your family to fall apart,” she implored. 

As the leading legal insurance provider in the country, Legal Guard offers five primary products. These are Kgwebo Guard, Prestige, Moemedi Guard, Tshireletso Premier and Accident Guard. These retail products cover an array of litigation and non-litigation matters. It is also vital to note that over and above retail products, we also offer group scheme products to which we tailor make as per client’s needs and preferences. These include;

• Estate Administration,
• Labour matters 
• Criminal matters
• Land tribunal 
• Family matters
• Civil matters and
• Conveyancing (Terms & Conditions apply)

Insurance functions act as a safety net and a risk aversion initiative. One of the most significant services offered at Legal Guard is free legal advice for most legal matters. Knowledge is today’s currency. When the youth are aware of their rights, we believe that the future of this country is secured. When people can be held to task and exercise accountability, then will Botswana become a great nation.

Ratlhaga spoke on how the company has already begun executing their education drive. In June 2022, they reached a digital milestone when they launched both their Consumer Portal and their elaborate company website. The portal was created to build solid relations with customers, to highlight the significance of customer relations and also to take a step forward in digitization. “Amongst our numerous initiatives to reach out to the youth, we also desire to have a legal show on some radio stations and on social media. We want the youth to know that we are fully committed to partnering with them on the journey to legal enlightenment,” she concluded. 

The legal website is loaded with a wealth of knowledge and legal information. The company has plans of adding more functionalities such as archives, glossaries and cases to familiarize the youth with legal jargon, processes and the extent to which legal insurance can be of assistance. Furthermore, the company plans to visit universities across Botswana and educate them on the legal insurance landscape of Botswana and the benefits of insurance.