MALAWI VICE PRESIDENT PROPOSES AN INTERGRATED POSTAL SERVICE

The Vice President of the Republic of Malawi Saulos Chilima has called African countries to achieve one post office – one Africa as they strive to develop postal services through development of ICT based products and services.
Chilima said this when he opened the 33rd Ordinary session of the administrative council of the Pan African Postal Union (Papu) in Lilongwe on Monday.

“This is of great importance, especially recognising the fact that we are living in the digital era whereby the linkage between the physical, electronic and financial postal networks have become an undisputable reality,” he said.

He said Africans are living in an era of increasing integrated global community and in particular the growing role of Pan African Postal business means that systems are getting more and more interlinked thereby creating great challenges for regulators and governments.

“This calls for greater cooperation among member states especially here in Africa,” he said.
Chilima said the country has not been left out in this growth as the Malawi postal service has made tremendous progress over the past few years.

“The designated postal operator, the Malawi Posts Corporation is now fully automated and has modernised fleet of motor vehicles. This will go a long way in improving quality service delivery,” he said.

Speaking before the Vice president, Papu Secretary General Younouss Djibrine said this year presents the African continent and the postal fraternity many opportunities for development of the network towards attainment of greater social and economic integration.

“In this regard, Papu in collaboration with key stakeholders including the African Union Commission and the UPU has put in place initiatives to ensure that member states take full advantage of modern and customer oriented communication systems, products and services in the ICT domain,” he said.

Djibrine said electrification and connectivity of postal outlets is one of the key projects in the pipeline for they have secured immense support and encouragement from the African Union.