2003-07-11
Added
NAMFISA instructs short-term insurers, reinsurers, brokers, agents, and hire purchase companies to cease contracting with entities not registered with the authority to conduct short-term insurance business in Namibia. The regulator prohibits practices that deny clients the choice of selecting their policy provider, deeming such conduct irregular under Section 60 of the Short-term Insurance Act. All parties must stop these practices with immediate effect while NAMFISA prepares to publish a notice in the Government Gazette declaring such conduct undesirable.
NAMFISA NAMIBIA FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY
Enquiries: E.U. Tjipepa
July 11, 2003
CIRCULAR LETTER PI/SI/1/2003
UNDESIRABLE BUSINESS PRACTICE APPLIED BY CERTAIN PARTIES IN THE SHORT-TERM INSURACE BUSINESS
This notice serves to advise all Short-term insurers, reinsurers, insurance brokers, reinsurance brokers, agents and including hire purchase companies (institutions) and any other interested parties not to carry on the business of short term insurance in Namibia unless such person is registered with NAMFISA to carry on such business.
We have become aware of certain practices by some registered insurance/reinsurance companies knowingly contracting with insurance brokers, agents and especially the reinsurance brokers and hire purchase companies who are not registered with NAMFISA and doing insurance business with these institutions
We would also like to inform you that the practice of leaving no choice to the client to determine with whom a policy is to be taken, cannot be condoned and this should be dealt with in terms of Section 60 of the Short-term Insurance Act, (Act No 4 of 1998). The effect of these practices is to discriminate against certain registered parties and consequently, their members and to undermine the principle of regulation.
Notice is hereby given of our intention to publish a notice in the Government Gazette in terms of section 25 (3) of the Short-term Insurance Act, 1998 (Act 4 of 1998) of registered entities or to inform all our registered entities to cease any contractual agreements with such entities. This notice would declare this conduct as irregular or undesirable.
Consequently, all parties are instructed, to cease the practices referred to above with immediate effect to enable the matter to be dealt with in terms of section 25 (3) of the Short-term Insurance Act, (Act No.4 of 1998) and in terms section 4 (2)(h) of the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority Act, 2001 (Act No. 3 of 2001).
Yours truly,
Marcelina Gaoses Deputy Registrar (GM): Provident Institutions FOR REGISTRAR: SHORT-TERM INSURANCE
• P.O. Box 21250 Windhoek NAMIBIA • 154 Independence Avenue • 8th Floor, Sanlam Centre • Tel: (+264 61) 290 5000 • Fax: (+264 61) 256303 • E-Mail: info@namfisa.com.na