An interview of Doctor Mhlanga, Genaral Manager at Patura Risk Eswatini.
Please tell give us a brief background about yourself and your career?
I am a humble man who was born and raised on the outskirts of Siteki in the Lubombo region. I had a taste of
the insurance industry whilst still at tertiary in the year 2000 during my internship at the then Alexander Forbes
who I later joined after tertiary.
The introduction to insurance was interesting to me hence I pursued the profession with passion. I enrolled for
my insurance studies soon after tertiary and went on become one of the youngest to qualify as an insurance
practitioner in the industry.I joined ESRIC as an underwriter in 2006 where I was exposed to various sectors of
the industry and went on to have a memorable time of my career before moving to Glenrand MIB (Swaziland)
(Pty) Ltd early 2010 to assume the position of Country Manager.
What inspired you to stay committed in the insurance industry?
I enjoyed and still enjoy what I do. The industry afforded me the opportunity to provide risk solutions to both
people and businesses. It permitted me to share the boardroom with highly respected players in the local
economy and went on to share experiences and expertise with respected regional and international insurance
practitioners.
How many years of experience have you got in the industry?
I have over 20 years of industry experience
What special achievement have you attained over the years?
I have groomed and nurtured young talent in the industry and some went on to have successful careers. I have
further been a partner in two (2) of the organizations I have worked for. I started Patula Risk Eswatini from
scratch with the help of my fellow partners and we have been trading since November 2015. The support has
been humbling and special gratitude goes to both our clients and prospects. It was not easy to leave a stable
job to start and nurture a new entity. Patula Risk remains a key achievement and we are looking to expand our
geographical network to other towns in the future.
What advice can you give others on what it takes to succeed in this dynamic industry?
Insurance is very dynamic, so one has to be consistent in seeking knowledge so that you are not left behind.
Trust is very important and deliver on your promises
Do you outsource some of the products and services?
No, we do not. Some of our products and services are placed via regional strategic partners however everything
is managed and serviced locally. This whenever we outsource is primarily on specialist products where there is
a lack of or inadequate capacity.
What can you say was your best investment thus far?
My greatest investment was spending adequate time, and resources to acquire formal qualifications and knowledge, especially on the key industries that we serve. I still further invest in my Continued Professional Development by being a member and actively participating in most activities offered by regional professional bodies
such as the Insurance Institute of South Africa, news and industry insights by leading insurers.
We have further established and invested in links with South African, regional, and global insurance brokers
and we undergo a continuous careful vetting process to remain a member of the Alliances. Members support
the placement of insurance business into and from the African continent, providing on-the-ground service and
peace of mind, no matter where in the world your business is located.
As a General Manager, I would like to continue investing through bringing in change and value in the insurance
industry by doing the following activities:
• Youth engagement in their field studies
• Complying with all industry legislation
• Impact knowledge and experience acquired over the years for the upcoming generation.
• Restore integrity and trust in the profession
• See honest and principled people running the industry
Why do we need insurance?
There are many reasons why we need insurance and below are some examples:-
• The primary one is that it offers one peace of mind.
• Insurance protects your business or property against unexpected losses e.g. fire, storm, etc.
• It helps you minimize financial losses
• Some insurances are legislated and required for statutory compliance
• Insurance also increases business credibility
• It allows for the re-deployment of capital
What are your current products and services?
Patula Risk Eswatini Limited offers consulting, broking, and claims advocacy services to the consumer.
We market all legislated short-term insurance and specialist products like;aviation, marine and global
transport, corporate and commercial insurance, personal insurance, agriculture, political risks, liabilities,
mining & specialty, bonds, and guarantees, premium finance, etc just to mention a few.We also offer a
claims advocacy service to the market
What advice can you give the youth in the industry?
The current generation is very impatient which is detrimental to progress. They need to slow down a bit
and be patient. They need to
• Enrol for industry-related qualifications
• Read more
• Have empathy and remain humble
• Network
• Talk less and listen more
• Know your product offerings
What relationship does the company have with FSRA?
The FSRA is the insurance industry regulatory and supervisory authority and our company is a regulated
entity. The FSRA engages all regulated entities regularly as when there is a need in fulfilment of their
mandate.
What makes a claim to be declined or unapproved?
A loss may be declined due to the following reasons, however this list is not exhaustive
a) The loss is not covered in terms of the policy
b) There is a breach of policy warranty
c) The premium has not been paid
d) The claim is fraudulent
e) The loss falls within the policy deductible
f) The subject matter is not insured at all
g) Non-disclosure of material facts
h) Gross misrepresentation or description
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How has the Covid 19 outbreak affected the Company?
Covid 19 has not only led to a more volatile world economy but also resulted in serious implications to people’s
health. SMES play a major role in youth employment worldwide yet they were the most impacted and some of
them had shut down completely. We lost business as a result as some were our clients. The pandemic forced us
to re-strategize and invest in IT to enable our people to work from home. Some of our people survived one the
most unprecedented professional and personal challenges. We are one of the few that survived the pandemic
however post-traumatic stress remains real for some of our people hence the need to invest in their mental
health.
What challenges do you foresee in the insurance industry?
Economic growth which is a key driver for demand for insurance products remains very low and the economic
and business environments are currently unstable. This combined with the high unemployment rate poses
growth challenges. Climate change, regional, global unrest and stagnant economies, paste a gloomy picture for
the local and international market. Further, Eswatini faces a skills challenge and the industry will continue to be
an importer of skilled personnel at a high level until our youth consider insurance as a profession and harness
the available opportunities
What is the Business Philosophy, Mission and Vision of the Company?
Our business philosophy is we build long-term relationships with all stakeholders in the value chain and we act
with honesty and integrity in all the relationships, we listen to our clients and provide bespoke, innovative, and,
quality solutions to each client’s unique needs.
Our mission is to be local insurance industry service champions.
Our vision is to generate long-term relationships with our clients and be their strategic risk partners. We strive to
serve our clients with quality and value-priced products sourced from financially sound insurers that guarantee
them peace of mind.
Our people are dedicated to provide customized service and products, tailor-made to the needs of each client
and their financial goals.