MVA Funds seeks to improve efficiency

THE Motor Vehicle Accident Fund of Namibia (MVA) held a two-day symposium in Windhoek last week to discuss changes to legislation to improve its efficiency and service.

The MVA Fund says it has been experiencing problems with financial sustainability and is aiming at developing a model fund that would focus more on accident victims and countering fraudulent claims. The meeting was part of the positive evolution of the Fund towards essentially being a caregiver, instead of being just a compensation provider for the victims of road accidents.”This is more than just an attitude and will positively impact on the ability of the Fund to react quickly to people in need, without having to contest liability as is currently the case,” the Fund said after the symposium.It said the recommended improvements to the law governing the MVA Fund were in keeping with the general overhauling of the Fund that has been spearheaded over the last year by its CEO, Jerry Muadinohamba.The MVA Fund was established to help people affected by vehicle accidents and it says the changes to the law would further improve its efficiency and effectiveness.It wants to expand its services to providing trauma care, rehabilitation, medical treatment, accident response, income for dependants and general accident and injury prevention.The meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of Justice, the law society, representatives from the insurance industry, presenters from the medical fraternity, including Methealth, as well as representatives from similar accident funds from other SADC countries who shared their own experiences and recommendations.The main objective of the MVA Fund is to provide compensation for losses or damage arising out of motor vehicle accidents.However, the payment of compensation depends on determining fault in accordance with the principles of the laws of delict, the basis of current legislation.The Fund says that places the burden of proof on the claimant to establish fault on the part of the driver or owner of the motor vehicle that caused the accident.Muadinohamba, recently voted Best Business Communicator of the Year, said the symposium was held specifically to propose and discuss a draft bill that will address the shortcomings in the way the Fund operates, based on the experience of the last five years.The symposium was part of an ongoing consultative process and its recommendations will be considered for incorporation in the final bill that will be tabled before Parliament.The meeting was part of the positive evolution of the Fund towards essentially being a caregiver, instead of being just a compensation provider for the victims of road accidents.”This is more than just an attitude and will positively impact on the ability of the Fund to react quickly to people in need, without having to contest liability as is currently the case,” the Fund said after the symposium.It said the recommended improvements to the law governing the MVA Fund were in keeping with the general overhauling of the Fund that has been spearheaded over the last year by its CEO, Jerry Muadinohamba.The MVA Fund was established to help people affected by vehicle accidents and it says the changes to the law would further improve its efficiency and effectiveness.It wants to expand its services to providing trauma care, rehabilitation, medical treatment, accident response, income for dependants and general accident and injury prevention.The meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of Justice, the law society, representatives from the insurance industry, presenters from the medical fraternity, including Methealth, as well as representatives from similar accident funds from other SADC countries who shared their own experiences and recommendations.The main objective of the MVA Fund is to provide compensation for losses or damage arising out of motor vehicle accidents.However, the payment of compensation depends on determining fault in accordance with the principles of the laws of delict, the basis of current legislation.The Fund says that places the burden of proof on the claimant to establish fault on the part of the driver or owner of the motor vehicle that caused the accident.Muadinohamba, recently voted Best Business Communicator of the Year, said the symposium was held specifically to propose and discuss a draft bill that will address the shortcomings in the way the Fund operates, based on the experience of the last five years.The symposium was part of an ongoing consultative process and its recommendations will be considered for incorporation in the final bill that will be tabled before Parliament.