Postal sector urged to keep up with ICT changes

Pauline Dikuelo | Friday August 7, 2015 16:17

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), Mphoeng Tamasiga said this at the 14th annual Southern African Postal Operations Association (SAPOA) General Meeting this week.

Tamasiga said the postal sector across the globe bears the worst brunt of the changing times noting that social media is affecting the sector’s business operations. “The sector has to develop innovative ways to grow and thrive. There are apparent business opportunities to exploit and some of these opportunities may require collaboration with communities who will reap socio economic benefits,” she said.

Tamasiga added that the postal sector should re-invent itself, automate its processes and systems, adopt ICT based programmes and strategies in order to grow.

He also warned the sector about the competition that it is faced with especially from logistics companies.

Meanwhile, Senior Programme Officer at the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Cecilia Mamelodi-Onyadile commended SAPOA for taking a lead and embarking on some initiatives to ensure that the SADC post offices reinvent themselves in a way that provides access to its citizens.

“The implementation of the SADC postal strategy which was approved last year is on track and is expected to lead to studies on the postal financial inclusion guidelines for SADC,” she said. The SAPOA chairman, Thato Mosisili reaffirmed their commitment to SADC regional agenda on the provision of efficient communication services to the communities.

“As an association, we remain on target and focus on our biggest priority to keep the postal network connected and efficient in the delivery of communication services. We remain committed  to partner with government through service delivery to our communities,” she said.

Mosisili said during the year under review, they were able to increase investment in their operations and also developed innovative products, solutions by working close with their suppliers. He however noted that they are still facing financial constraints primarily because some of their members are not honouring their financial obligation and appealed to all Postal CEO’s to clear their outstanding subscription balances on time.