Botswana Post strikes Orange deal

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday July 10, 2008 00:00

According to the new arrangement, Orange customers will now have the opportunity of recharging their prepaid mobiles in the selected 34 post offices across the country.

The facility, which forms part of the Orange prepaid enhancement launched on Wednesday has also increased accessibility to its airtime throughout the country,  especially in rural areas. Products and services airtime sales in all 34 post offices will include SIM card sales and replacements.

Orange and Botswana Post have now ventured into this merger and saw it fit to enhance awareness through a promotion which entitles winners to great prizes like a Kia Picanto car.

Speaking at the launch of the new partnership, Botswana Postal Services acting Director of Customer Services, Ned Phatshwane, said the event marks another milestone achievement in the service delivery strategies of Botswana Post.  

Phatshwane said the Orange and Botswana Post agreement signifies an important milestone in the lives of many customers who will be able to recharge their mobiles across the country. In addition to the  34 post offices offering these services, Botswana Post is  planning is to roll out the project to more post offices to reach 50 outlets by December.

'You may recall that three months ago, we launched a relationship between Botswana Post and Trans Union, where credit-active individuals can purchase their credit history from selected post offices. And last week Thursday, we launched another state of the art facility, Hybrid Mail, which targets large volumes mail generators such as utility companies, commercial banks and others. Today we are launching yet another relationship and this time it is between Botswana Post and Orange Botswana,' he said.

Phatshwane said 'all these initiatives are inline with national aspirations as espoused in the Vision 2016 pillars of building an educated and informed nation that is also prosperous, productive and innovative'.

The post office has been the traditional means through which messages are communicated and goods delivered.

'The postal service, therefore, has become an integral part of the people's lives all over the world. Like elsewhere, it is the post office that provides the basic links that connect Botswana's populations for it is through the post office that we send and receive letters and that we communicate with our families and loved ones. The services should not be taken for granted since they cement society's social fabric,' he said.

Apart from serving communities, he said, it is worth noting that the post office is an important communication medium for business and commerce. 'For some time now, we have been acting as an agency for various government departments, para-statals and the private sector as exemplified by today's launch of Orange Botswana and Botswana Post agreement, thus bringing the services closer to the communities'.

He said the post office continues to play a pivotal role in reducing the 'information gap' between nations, communities and individuals. 

'It is evident now more than ever, that the postal services infrastructure can be optimised by using it not only to bring traditional postal products and services to the people but also to make contemporary information dissemination tools available for informed decision making at individual level'.