'Talk to my lawyers at Shoprite Checkers'

A retired world class sprinter and an award winning cattle breeder have formed a legal insurance firm promises to take on Legal Shield and its Winna Mariba game show. Their draw card is Shoprite Checkers through whose shops countrywide they intend to reach out to their clients. Frank Fredericks, the 100-metre world class sprinter now turned businessman, and fisherman/farmer Sidney Martins, launched African Legal Networks Namibia this week. The firm offers legal insurance for a monthly premium of N$69 which gives an annual cover of N$70000. In an interview with the Economist, Martins, who is the company’s executive director said, “We are unique and different, we have unique product, unique distribution network and our benefits are superior to our competitors.” The “unique distribution network” is the use of Shoprite Checkers' money market kiosks, which will act as the official agents of African Legal Networks Namibia. Clients will have an option of paying their monthly instalments at any Shoprite store in Namibia.

Launching the African Legal Networks Namibia are (from left) Frank Fredericks, Rakesh Kalyan, Sidney Martins, Jacques van der Merwe, and Dr Mathew Phosa.

African Legal Networks Namibia is the fourth legal insurance firm to set up shop since the introduction of Legal Shield, and its subsequent placement under curatorship. Last year saw the establishment of LawSure and Legal Challenge. The latter entered the market with black economic empowerment as its draw card. LawSure promised competitive products and overall business approach. Initiators of African Legal Networks says they are not going to pay the lawyers any fee unless the clients has indicated that she or he is satisfied with the service rendered. Just as others, they are also going to use in-house lawyers and outside lawyers for cases that they cannot handle. African Legal Networks was started in South Africa by Jacques van der Merwe and Dr Mathew Phosa in 1998.

Van der Merwe says although they are not the biggest legal aid company in South Africa they are the most talked about because of their ability to think out of the box.
“The experience and qualifications of the shareholders of African Legal Networks Namibia, both in legal services and business arena, have been brought together to provide a service for the people of Namibia in an expedient and cost effective way,” read the police document from African Legal Networks Namibia. The legal aid firm says it gives a full refund to members who are not satisfied with the services within the first month of joining. The company plans to open offices in Oshakati as well.