By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –

THE Pension and Insurance Authority (PIA) has challenged Zambians to take up insurance as an essential tool to increase Zambia’s wealth.
PIA Registrar Martin Libinga said it was imperative that citizens took up insurance as an essential tool to increase wealth as it complements the other facets of financial stability by ensuring that it sustains them when exposed to risks.
Mr Libinga said this when he officiated at the launch of Promed and Rewards partnership between Cresta Golfview Hotel and Professional Life Assurance (PLA).
The partnership aims at bringing services closer to customers, by offering various discounts of up to 50 per cent which   they can enjoy while having their Promed card.
The Promed card allows customers to access high quality medical services country wide.
He said the partnership was in line with the authority’s strategic plan running from 2013 to 2015  which focuses on creating a conducive  environment which promotes  the development of  a sound  and stable Pensions  and Insurance  industry.
One of the objectives is to develop and maintain institutional capacity for efficient and effective execution of the authority’s mandate and cooperate with other stakeholders in the financial sector on measures aimed at prevention of financial crime.
“Hence this partnership between Cresta Golfview Hotel and PLA is in line with the strategic objectives and I want to urge all of you here to take advantage of these initiatives and utilise them,” Mr Libinga said.
At the same occasion, PLA managing director Rajagopal Krishnaswamy said PLA viewed the partnership as a pioneering partnership which brought value to its clients.