Zimbabwe embarks on postal reform

Zimbabwe has embarked on a five-year reform programme as part of efforts to adapt to the changes that have emerged in the postal services sector, a Cabinet Minister said.

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Cde Witness Mangwende, said this when he officially opened a two-day cost accounting conference being attended by the postal service industry.

Cde Mangwende said postal services around the world had witnessed changes that include deregulation and globalisation of postal markets, increasing competition and the introduction of modern technology such as the Internet and electronic commerce.

“The postal reforms which were embarked on in 2001 and last up to 2005 encompass three main areas; the Regulatory and Statutory Reforms, Enterprise Reforms, Technological Develop-ments and Modernisation of the postal infrastructure,” said Cde Mangwende.

He urged postal operators to adapt to the challenges especially in technology where they would need to offer the electronic mail service as an alternative to the ordinary mailing system.

“The new Posts and Telecom-munications Act of 2000 was promulgated as part of the new statutory reforms aimed at creating an enabling environment for postal operators.

“In line with the Act, the former Posts and Telecommunic-ations Corporation was unbundled into three autonomous commercial entities namely TelOne, a fixed telephone network, NetOne, a cellular network and Zimpost offering postal services,” he said.

Cde Mangwende said Govern-ment was in the process of establishing a universal service fund set up under the Posts and Telecommunications Act.

He said the fund would be used to ensure the provision of universal postal services in the country.

The service would also cover remote areas.

“The fund will be used to finance the extension of postal services to rural communities and in recognition of the importance of postal services, Government will continue to provide the necessary support to ensure infrastructural development in the postal sector,” he said.

Zimpost general manager Mrs Gladys Mutyavaviri said her company had responded to the various challenges by embarking on such initiatives as postal reform programme.

“As part of the on-going postal reform programme, various initiatives are being undertaken to generate revenue and improving on service delivery throughout the country,” said Mrs Mutyavaviri.

She said Zimpost has introduced new products and services that include direct mail service, mailroom management, and provision of insurance and educational loans.

“The introduction of these new products and services provides significant benefits and convenience to our customers and this has enhanced Zimpost’s revenue generation capacity,” said Mutyavaviri.