By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Zimbabwe has outlined a
three-phase plan to transform its postal and courier sector as declining postal
volumes and pressure on revenues push the industry towards new digital and
commercial models.
Minister of ICT, Postal and
Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, announced the policy direction while
delivering the keynote address at the Zimbabwe Annual Postal and Courier
Conference.
Mavetera acknowledged the
financial pressures facing the postal sector, noting that postal volumes are
declining and revenue is under pressure, but said the trend should not
determine the future of the industry.
The government is developing
a Postal and Courier Services Policy, while a Postal and Telecommunications
Amendment Bill is before Parliament. An E-Commerce and E-Transactions Bill is
also under construction to provide a legal framework for digital trade.
The minister also pointed to
Zimbabwe’s National AI Strategy and plans for flexible licence categories to
support innovative operators as part of the broader policy direction for the
sector.
A key issue identified by
Mavetera is the funding model for ZimPost, particularly the need for a
consistent Universal Service Obligation mechanism. She said the Universal
Service Fund would be ring-fenced in the first phase of the government’s
three-phase plan to support programmes at Digital Centres.
The second phase, described
as commercialisation, will focus on developing Smart Post Offices by 2030,
alongside the adoption of artificial intelligence, drones and e-commerce. The
third phase, capitalisation, will involve strategic equity partnerships.
Mavetera said Zimbabwe’s
postal network extends beyond the traditional delivery of mail, noting its role
in ensuring that pensions reach rural communities and supporting digital
inclusion through a physical presence in every district.
She described the
development of Smart Post Offices as a firm deadline rather than a long-term
aspiration, signalling the government’s intention to reposition the postal
network as part of Zimbabwe’s wider digital economy infrastructure.
