By Al Jazeera / Diaspora Insurance News
When you think of insurance, health coverage probably comes to mind. But in Zimbabwe, a surprising number of people are choosing something else: funeral insurance.
Take the story of Steward Ganda, 60, from Kambuzuma, a low-income suburb in Harare. For months, he battled severe pain in his legs and struggled to run his small tuck shop. With no health insurance and unable to afford hospital bills, he tried to soldier on alone.
Eventually, family members convinced him to see a doctor. After being admitted to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, doctors first suspected a stroke, later suggesting a kidney-related problem requiring a specialist. The consultation fee? $600.
Ganda’s family scrambled for funds for a month but could not raise enough. He passed away shortly thereafter.
Yet, while his final months were spent in pain, his funeral was well-covered. Thanks to his $11-a-month funeral insurance with Nyaradzo Group, his family had a casket, a hearse, burial equipment, and a bus to transport mourners on the 135 km journey to his hometown.
This is not an isolated case. Across Zimbabwe, more people are preparing for death than for survival. With fewer than 900,000 formally employed and roughly 90% of the population lacking health insurance, funeral policies have become the country’s most widely held financial product. About 72% of insured Zimbabweans have funeral cover, compared with only 30% who have health insurance.
Funeral insurance is affordable, culturally resonant, and provides peace of mind in a country where dignity in death often outweighs the ability to access healthcare.
The Diaspora Safety Net
Zimbabweans abroad have also created their own solutions. The Diaspora Insurance Funeral Cash Plan has become a vital lifeline, allowing migrants to secure coverage for themselves and relatives back home. These plans typically include cash payouts and other funeral services, and can be paid in dollars, pounds, or euros.
What makes the plan appealing:
1. Guaranteed payout in hard currency
Policies pay a cash lump sum, often up to US$20,000, upon proof of death, allowing families to cover funeral costs or repatriate the body.
2. No medical checks
Applicants are accepted without medical exams or intrusive health questions, making the plan accessible even to older or less-healthy migrants.
3. Worldwide coverage
Plans operate across Europe, the UK, North America, the Middle East, Australia, and beyond, providing true cross-border support.
4. Flexible beneficiary options
Policyholders can include family members, take out individual plans, or opt for group coverage for burial societies, associations, or church groups.
5. Fast payout when needed
Once a valid claim and proof of death are submitted, funds are typically transferred within 24 hours to a bank anywhere in the world.
6. Long-term lifetime cover
As long as premiums are paid regularly, most plans remain active for life, ensuring benefits do not lapse.
Some plans cover multiple family members in Zimbabwe, and the Diaspora Insurance Funeral Cash Plan spans 25 African countries, reflecting the growing reach of transnational funeral support.
Despite these benefits, reliance on relatives abroad remains uneven and often insufficient to cover rising healthcare costs. Yet for millions, such policies offer some control over a deeply uncertain situation.
When Death is Planned, Life Remains a Gamble
Steward Ganda’s story highlights a difficult reality: in Zimbabwe, survival can be a gamble, while preparing for death is often more feasible. Funeral insurance provides comfort in passing, but the inability to access timely medical care remains a challenge for millions.
The rise of funeral and diaspora insurance is a testament to human ingenuity and cultural values, but it also underscores the urgent need for broader, more affordable healthcare solutions in the country.
