Staff Reporter
Hollard Namibia has gone rogue and seemingly rebellious against their bigger brands on the issue of recognising business interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic that hit every corner of the planet.
Unlike their bigger namesake, Hollard South Africa, and Hollard International that after an initial reluctance, started paying out claims for business interruption to tourism- and tourism-related insured companies, Hollard Namibia remains averse.
Hollard Namibia has dug in its heels with a strategy — unlike most insurers, including Hollard International and Hollard South Africa — not to admit or deny any insurance claims for business interruption and is forcing Namibia’s most respected tourism and conservation brand names to approach the courts for a decision.
In a historic turn of events, two members of the marginalized San community will use the most modern communication technology to highlight the challenges their development faces if business interruption by Covid-19 is denied and continuously questioned for nearly a year by Insurers like Hollard Namibia.
Gondwana and N/a’an ku sê have invited Ryan Woolley, the CEO of ICA, a specialist loss adjustment firm representing over 900 clients in the tourism and hospitality sector against large insurers, both in South Africa and Namibia to join an open discussion about the current stalemate and the Hollard Namibia tactics.
The virtual meeting that will include the historic international interaction with two members of the San community will be open to all stakeholders and people with interest in the matter. Both N/a’an ku sê and Gondwana will provide insight into Hollard Namibia’s unique dispute on the businesses and the wider tourism sector, the revival of the economy, and the sustainability of vulnerable communities across the country.
An aggressive fight-back of Hollard with their CEO Jaco Lampbrecht, in the frontlines, ignited a social media storm on various platforms with activists, young entrepreneurs, and socialites leading the charge in condemning and exposing what they term a unique and entrenched’ culture in the Hollard management.
According to the Facebook storm that was ignited by the Mayor of Windhoek, Job Amupanda, and Jaco Lampbrecht, Hollard Namibia personnel are now whistle-blowers and victims of the Hollard Namibia stance.
Lampbrecht in the meantime removed his post against the mayor of Windhoek and remained inactive on his Facebook account that was overpopulated of cycling events in which he and Hollard Namibia Staff participated.
The San community and N/a’an ku sê with powerful backers like Angina Jolie and Brad Pitt and a host of international researchers and nature production companies claim that not only operators in the tourism industry are in jeopardy, but are also impeding on the livelihoods of certain communities and conservancies in peril.
Since courts in the United Kingdom and South Africa confirmed the validity of business interruption claims due to Covid-19 some insurers have agreed to settle these claims and have begun making payments to businesses devastated by government restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 and protect their citizens from more calamity.
Besides remaining non-responsive to a claim – without any quantum registered by the Gondwana Collection, Hollard Namibia has also jilted N/a’an ku sê, an eco-tourism Non-Governmental Organisation that provides medical, ancient skills learning and critical upliftment support to the vulnerable San communities in Eastern Namibia as well as wildlife rehabilitation and research.
Tourism is a critical sector in the beleaguered Namibian economy contributing 15% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. The total impact of tourism on related sectors it contributes to is closer to 40%.
Tourism – with Namibia consistently on the top 5 list of countries to visit – according to various indexes is a major employer, supports rural communities and consequently, any negative impact on the sector has a significant impact on the economy, jobs, and communities.
Details of the virtual conference are as follows:
Date: Wednesday 17 March 2021
Time: 10h00 – 11h15
