The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has begun consultations with stakeholders across the country to gather views on improving the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund policy, with the aim of ensuring fair compensation and better protection for road accident victims.
At a consultation meeting held in Mafeteng, Administration Manager Mr. Tsamaiso Tlolotlolo welcomed delegates from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, saying road accidents continue to affect many Basotho, leaving some with serious injuries, permanent disabilities or loss of life.
He noted that many victims struggle to pay their medical expenses, making it important for Lesotho to have a compensation system that adequately supports those affected.
Senior Legal Officer Mrs. Makabelo-Thethe Chitja said the review of the policy was prompted by concerns from Basotho who had not been fairly compensated after being involved in road accidents.
She explained that compensation was initially handled through insurance under the Motor Vehicle Insurance Act of 1972, which required all vehicle owners to be insured so that accident victims could be compensated but owners of car later fail to pay monthly premiums hence caused difficulties.
She said the government later introduced the Motor Vehicle Insurance Order No. 26 of 1989 to strengthen the system, with compensation administered through the Lesotho National Insurance Group (LNIG).
However, she noted that the system still had shortcomings, including delays in claims and compensation that did not adequately consider victims who required long term medical treatment or had not fully recovered from their injuries.
She noted that the insurance order had discriminatory provisions, as compensation was often based on medical reports completed at a specific stage of treatment, without considering victims who remained in hospital or required more than two years to recover.
She said victims had to claim within two year and if had failed to do so, they were not compensated.
She noted that this and other shortcomings left many road accident victims inadequately compensated.
Mrs. Chitja said these challenges showed the need for a new legal framework that is consistent with the Constitution and provides fair and equitable compensation for all road accident victims.
During the discussions, participant Mr. Selebeleng Selebeleng proposed that the revised policy should extend the period for lodging compensation claims and ensure fair compensation for victims who are unable to work because of accident-related injuries.
He also urged the government to make provisions for victims whose medical conditions worsen after they have already received compensation and maybe discovered in later years.
Source: Lesotho News Agency [LENA]
