Universal Postal Union (UPU) opens up to wider private sector players

THE ongoing Universal Postal Union (UPU) extraordinary congress at Saudi Arabia has passed a proposal for the opening up of the UPU to wider postal sector players.

The proposal that was passed by member States including Zimbabwe, which is in attendance, will allow private postal sector players such as private courier companies, printers, universities and other private operators to be considered members of the UPU so that they can benefit from the extensive postal network that has over 660 000 postal outlets.

The UPU worldwide postal network has a mature and well-established system that allows for a seamless exchange of mail and parcels. It is this system that the private sector seeks to benefit from.

The opening up of the postal sector to the Wider Postal Sector Players (WPSP) is basically concerned with change of Governance Structure and institutional framework of the UPU as well as the extent to which the private sector will have access to the products and services that were developed by the UPU.

Zimbabwe is part of the participants at the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Fourth Extraordinary Congress that kicked off on Sunday and ends tomorrow in Saudi Arabia.

The congress has held sessions on how best to ensure the postal service industry remains relevant and competitive in the technological advancing world.

According to Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Potraz’s) licensee register of postal and courier operators, Zimbabwe has only one designated postal service operator Zimpost and 11 courier operators.

In an exclusive interview from Saudi Arabia with Chronicle Online, Minister of Information Communication Technologies, Postal and Courier Services Dr Tatenda Mavetera said the Government has plans of opening up the postal and courier services field.

“It has been passed that we open up to other wider postal operators so that we move as a team and learn from each other in line with our own concept in Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and that is meant to ensure and enhance the survival of the postal sector,” said Minister Mavetera.

The extraordinary congress brings together representatives of Governments, designated operators, regulators and restricted unions from the Member Countries of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) as well as officials of UN and International organisations. Congress is the highest decision and policy making body of the UPU, which is attended by accredited Plenipotentiaries of Member States.

The Zimbabwe delegation is led by Minister Mavetera who is accompanied by Potraz officials and Zimpost officials among other representatives from the country’s telecommunications sector.-@mthabisi_mthire