BUSINESS REPORTER
Zimbabwe’s largest financial services group, Old Mutual , on Thursday officially launched a fully-fledged funeral service business.
Old Mutual Zimbabwe has been offering the Flexi Funeral Plan, an annually renewable funeral policy that has been paying out a cash benefit to cater for funeral expenses for members or their dependents.
Speaking at the launch in Harare, Old Mutual Zimbabwe group CEO, Samuel Matsekete (pictured) said the move was in response to customers’ call for “an end-to-end solution that includes funeral services”.
“Old Mutual has a long history of service in Africa and in Zimbabwe. Over this period, our customers, and the communities we serve have shaped and remained at the centre of what we do. Our commitment is to always listen to our customers and be responsive,” Matsekete said.
He added: “We have been offering the Flexi Funeral Plan, an annually renewable funeral policy that has been paying out a cash benefit to cater for funeral expenses for members or their dependents. Our customer spoke and requested that we offer them an end-to-end solution that includes funeral services. We are delighted to officially announce today our response to that call. Today we introduce the Old Mutual Funeral Service offering which is over and above the cash benefit we offer, as Old Mutual Zimbabwe.
“This new service offering adds to a range of existing financial service products Old Mutual offers in the market. This latest offering is set not only to meet the needs of our customers, but to also demonstrate our commitment to our customers, to be to their certain friend in uncertain times. We are all committed to serving you at the level of standard that is comparable only to the best you can find anywhere. “
Matsekete said Old Mutual will expand its funeral service branch network.
“Presently the funeral services business has bases in Harare and Bulawayo and we will continue to open branches in other strategic locations across the country. Our focus will be on ensuring that regardless of where you are within the country, we should be able to serve you,” he said.
Matsekete said Old Mutual has already established a partnership with a major South African operator to manage repatriations from that market.
