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Mthabisi Tshuma in MASVINGO
GOVERNMENT is finalising a new postal and courier services policy with measures being put in place to amend the Postal and Telecommunications Act, a Cabinet Minister has said.
The Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services, Dr Tatenda Mavetera, made the remarks during the awards ceremony of young innovators at the Potraz 2024 hackathon held in Masvingo on Tuesday.
The hackathon, also known as Innovation Drive Challenge 2024, scouts for young innovators with three of the excelling companies to be funded by the authority.
In a speech read on her behalf by ICT Deputy Minister, Cde Dingumuzi Phuthi, Dr Mavetera said the ministry was adapting to the advancement of technology hence the need to put in place supporting policies.
“As the world develops and adopts new technologies, the need for some goods and services to be delivered to consumers will remain constant. This means our postal and courier services must up their game,” she said.
“From a policy level, we have finalised a new postal and courier services policy. We are also working on amending the Postal and Telecommunications Act to accommodate new developments in the sector since the Act was promulgated at the turn of the millennium.
“We will continue to review our policies to ensure the growth of the sector. We are open as well to contributions from everyone on how we can grow our sector to become the leading light in Africa,” revealed Dr Mavetera.
She said the state of postal and courier services in Zimbabwe is shaped by multiple factors, including technological advancements and shifts in consumer behaviour.
“As e-commerce continues to expand globally, the demand for efficient delivery systems within Zimbabwe has also increased.
“The volume of shipments transported is a critical metric indicating the performance of postal services, mirroring trends observed in other regions, such as the V4 states in Europe, where significant growth in shipments has been documented,” said Dr Mavetera.
“Furthermore, environmental considerations are becoming paramount, as the logistics sector must adapt to minimise its carbon footprint while meeting the growing demand for parcel deliveries.
“This dual focus on efficiency and sustainability will likely drive innovations in Zimbabwe’s postal services, positioning them to better serve consumers in a rapidly changing market,” she added.
Online Reporter