Story by Chiedza Mutyavaviri
ZIMBABWE has called for bold reforms and innovation to modernise Africa’s postal sector, as the 11th Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Postal Union (PAPU) Plenipotentiary Conference opened in Kampala, Uganda.
Chairperson of the conference and Zimbabwe’s Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Tatenda Mavetera, urged African countries to embrace digitalisation, strengthen partnerships and adopt transformative strategies to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global environment.
“The postal sector must rise to the occasion by embracing innovation, strengthening partnerships and building systems that are agile, inclusive and future-ready,” she said.
Honourable Mavetera noted that while the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the sector, it also accelerated opportunities in e-commerce logistics, digital services and last-mile delivery solutions.
She, however, warned that emerging challenges such as geopolitical tensions, economic instability, supply chain disruptions and technological shifts continue to affect postal operations across the continent.
The conference is expected to deliberate on key policy frameworks, including the African Postal Strategy for 2026 to 2030 and the Programme of Activities for the same period. Honourable Mavetera stressed the importance of adopting practical and implementable policies.
“Our objective must be to translate ideas into impact and ensure that our deliberations yield tangible outcomes that improve the lives of our citizens,” she said.
She also commended African countries for aligning the PAPU programme with the Universal Postal Union, describing the move as critical in strengthening Africa’s position in the global postal ecosystem.
As Zimbabwe prepares to hand over the chairmanship, Honourable Mavetera said the country’s tenure was marked by global disruptions, institutional reforms and renewed strategic direction, reaffirming Zimbabwe’s commitment to supporting the union’s future initiatives.
