For thousands of Zimbabwean motorists, third-party car insurance has become little more than a compulsory disc on the windscreen, purchased not out of understanding but simply to avoid police trouble.
Many say they do not feel its value and believe the system is stacked against them.
A survey conducted revealed deep frustration among motorists.
James Moyo, a Tshabalala resident, said he has been buying third-party insurance for more than ten years but has never made a claim.
“To me, paying for third-party insurance is like paying for something I never use. If you ask questions at some insurance offices, they look at you like you are wasting their time,” he said.
Other motorists have lost trust in the claims process. Harare-based motorist, Morgen Sibindi, said he once attempted to ask about claiming after a minor accident but abandoned the process.
“The paperwork shocked me. There was just too much documentation required. I gave up and fixed the car myself. I now buy the disc only to stay on the right side of the law,” he said.
Some motorists feel the cover protects everyone except the paying motorist.
“I pay faithfully every year, but if someone damages my car, the insurer tells me third-party does not cover me,”
“So what am I paying for? I feel like donating money,” said Kupa Shumba.
However, others insist the cover is an essential financial shield.
For Tawanda Chiromo of Bulawayo, third-party insurance saved him from a huge bill after he misjudged traffic lights at the Robert Mugabe Way and 4th Street intersection and collided with another vehicle.
“The other driver’s bill was shocking. I thought my whole salary for the year was gone,”
“That is when I understood the value of third-party insurance. My insurer handled everything. Without it, I would have been finished,” narrated Chiromo.
Under the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 13:11), all motorists are required to have third-party insurance, which covers injuries or damage caused to other people’s property or vehicles.
It does not cover the policyholder’s own car, a fact many motorists misunderstand.
Insurance expert Dr. Felix Chari of Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) said the disconnect between motorists and insurers is largely a result of poor communication and persistent myths about insurance.
“Third-party insurance is one of the most misunderstood financial products in Zimbabwe,” Dr. Chari said.
“For many motorists, the problem is not the product. It is the knowledge gap surrounding it. When people do not understand a product, they automatically assume it works against them.”
He added that many motorists underestimate the financial protection third-party insurance provides.
“A single accident can plunge a family into debt for years. What motorists see as a small annual payment is actually protection from potentially catastrophic liability,” noted Dr Chari.
He also further noted that the perception that insurers are unhelpful often stems from limited insurance literacy rather than the actual terms of the policy.
“We have a culture where people buy insurance because it is required and not because they understand it,” he said.
“When an accident happens, the lack of knowledge becomes painfully clear. Many claims are rejected not because insurers are malicious but because motorists unknowingly break basic requirements.”
According to Lloyd Gumbo, Public Relations Manager at the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC), the commission is running continuous consumer-education campaigns to address the gaps in public understanding.
He said the initiatives include weekly educational articles in national newspapers such as The Sunday Mail, digital campaigns on IPEC social media platforms, roadshows, and exhibitions.
