By Kefiloe Kajane
Local insurance company Alliance Insurance is donating M800 000 worth of shopping vouchers to 2 000 vendors in all districts.
The initiative is part of Alliance’s corporate social investment. It started with the handing over 200 vouchers to Maseru vendors this week.
Alliance Insurance head of marketing and communications ‘Makeabetsoe Mabaleha said it is their way of giving back to the community that supports them.
She said the funds used in the initiative were raised from their U-Mang Funeral Cover product offering which sets aside a certain percentage of its sales for reinvestment into the community during times of crisis.
She further said they decided to help vendors because they were among the people who were hit the hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic. She explained that they will be handing over similar vouchers to other vendors across the country next week.
“We conducted a study to identify vendors who need the assistance, in collaboration with Khathang Tema Baitṧukuli – an association for vendors,” Mabaleha said.
The minister of small business development, cooperatives and marketing, Keketso Sello thanked Alliance Insurance for the initiative and expressed confidence that, through the initiative, people will be able to revive their businesses.
One of the vendors who received a voucher, Montṧeng Mokhitlinyane, said the voucher is going to help her a lot because the Covid-19 lockdown resulted in her struggling with restocking.
“I sell fruits, so they all got rotten during the lockdown. So with this money I will be able to buy stock and finally get back on my feet. At least now I will take home something better unlike now when I only sell sweets which are not so profitable,” she said.
