MPC on death bed, calls for retrenchment

The Malawi Postal Corporation (MPC) says a possible downsize of its workforce from 800 to 300 as proposed following a recent functional review can help revive its operations, pointing out that the Corporation is currently on its “death bed.”

MPC’s Board Chairperson Noel Mkulichi and Acting Postmaster General Zacchaeus Meke jointly disclosed this on Tuesday in Lilongwe during an interface with two Parliamentary Committees; one on Industry, Trade and Tourism and another on Media, Information and Communications.

According to Meke, the establishment is deep in debt and that its operations are currently compromised.

“Our debt currently stands at about K9.3 billion, said Meke.

Mkulichi and Meke said apart from strengthening its courier services as part of its turnaround strategy, MPC is digitising its operations and that it will introduce e-commerce services for its resuscitation.
“Our passenger service business is a good investment but financial returns realised are covering for other recurrent expenses including salaries,” added Meke.

He also disclosed according to a recent functional review at the Corporation, the body only needs 310 of its 806 employees.

Meanwhile, Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information and Communications, Abu Naliwa says the committee will lobby for the recapitalisation of MPC to help return it on its feet.
Established in 2000, MPC has about 180 post offices across the country. The Corporation was founded to provide postal services and some financial services across Malawi.

MPC’s interface with the Parliamentary Committees on Tuesday is part of a two-week exercise by various Parliamentary Committees in scrutinising the proposed K1.9 Trillion National Budget through cluster committee meetings.

Source:MBC