The road Alliance built

MASERU – WHEN heavy storms lashed Maseru last year, Bowker Road, which leads to the offices of Alliance Insurance in Maseru was heavily damaged.

Travelling on the short 870-metre road became a daily challenge for clients and visitors to the office complex.

It was at that point that Alliance Insurance, one of the leading insurance companies in Lesotho, decided to fix the road.

Instead of simply sitting and moaning that the government was not doing enough to fix roads, Alliance Insurance decided to act and they did.

That saw over M500 000 being put towards the project. It was a daunting undertaking but with dedication and love, the work was soon completed.

Limakatso Mokobocho, the Manager PR, Communications and Sponsorships at Alliance Insurance, said this was one way in which the company wanted to show its appreciation to Basotho for their unwavering support over the years.

She said Alliance Insurance, which was founded in 1993, has been supporting Basotho in various projects over the years.

Their decision to repair Bowker Road would ensure that their clients and other individuals would access their offices easily.

“We thought of our clients’ vehicles which were at risk of breaking down because of the potholes,” Mokobocho said.

She said some of their clients faced challenges when they walked to their offices. Some cars would sometimes be driven on pavements as drivers sought to avoid pot-holes.

Bowker Road is close to the Mokorotlo (Basotho Hat) building, a key feature in Maseru that is a hub for tourists visiting the country. It also houses a museum and the Basotho artifacts centre.

“It was sad to see our tourists visiting the Mokorotlo experiencing the tragedy of potholes,” she said.

It was at this point when Alliance Insurance decided to step in and help. Mokobocho said the new road will likely boost the tourism sector which could have a positive knock-on effect on the national economy.

“When tourists increase, the economy also benefits,” she said.

Mokobocho said the repair of the road was carried out by a local company, Kou Construction.

She urged other local companies to join the party by fixing national infrastructure such as roads.

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Insurance, Robert Angus Yeats, said plans to rehabilitate the road began in March this year.

Yeats said negotiations with the Maseru City Council took longer than they expected with the project only starting in October.

He said they used interlog path blocks for a stronger road structure. He said they also built farrows which will allow the water to run smoothly without damaging the road.

Mokobocho said the company is involved in other projects in Lesotho. They also took an active interest in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said they have, over the years, been supporting 36 orphanages in Lesotho, pumping in over M400 000 when buying food parcels for the children.

The company also distributed M800 000 to 2 000 street vendors under the Covid-19 relief fund.

She said the company further contributed M1.5 million towards the government’s programme to acquire Covid-19 vaccines. Mokobocho said they have also built two business complexes in Mohale’s Hoek and Mokhotlong.

Through the projects, more jobs were created for Basotho. The new shops now operating at the complexes mean that people are now closer to services.

Shoprite, a supermarket chain, now operates at one of the complexes built by the Alliance Insurance Company in Mohale’s Hoek.

When Alliance Insurance Company was established in 1993, the objective was to create a company that speaks specifically to the needs of Basotho.

The company provides solutions such as life insurance, short-term insurance, employee benefits, legal insurance, and property investment and management.

Since its establishment, the company has extended its branches into all the districts of Lesotho. It also has sales agents and company brokers across the country. The company employs slightly over 300 people.

Alliance Insurance offers life cover insurance. Life insurance provides a lump sum payment to a beneficiary in the event of death.

The policy also protects the client’s ability to earn income, adjustment of the lifestyle due to disability and provide future needs.

It also provides legal insurance which covers the client with professional legal services, best legal expertise and takes care of the legal expenses subject to annual limits.

Alliance works with their clients to secure their financial freedom through investment in property consulting and property management through property investment and management policy.

The insurance company also introduced livestock insurance, a first of its kind in the country, which provides more than just an income for Basotho.

The policy was designed for the wool and mohair farmers as well as the sheep and goat breeders who provide stock to farmers in Lesotho.

The insurance covers livestock against death from attack by predators, accidents, natural disasters including hail and heavy snowfalls.

Mokobocho said Alliance Insurance also contributes towards the education sector. She said they have been working to improve basic facilities at Hoohlo Primary School in Maseru.

“For a period of three years, we pledged funds to improve the school’s facilities,’’ she said.

She said they further renovated the buildings and provided books to students.

Refiloe Mpobole