Story by Mercy Bofu-Matinha
TEN teams comprising three individuals participated at the 2024 innovation drive challenge organised by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) in Masvingo focusing on postal and courier services-oriented solutions.
Participants at the 2024 hackathon held in Masvingo recently were tasked to focus on development of products meant to improve efficiency in the postal and courier services sector
Winners of the competition gave an insight into the core products which include an internet-enabled smart locker system, a Pick-Up Drop-Off application and a customer interface tool.
“We are excited to be part of this year’s hackathon challenge and as a company we are committed to address some of the challenges faced by the postal and courier services given the emerging trends facilitated by new technologies,” said a winner.
“With the financial support we got from government through POTRAZ we are convinced that our dream of coming up with a Pick-Up Drop-Off type application that will assist our communities is going to be a reality. Many youths are talented but the challenge is financial support hence we are calling for more of these challenges,” added a winner.
POTRAZ deputy director general, Mr Alfred Marisa stressed the importance of encouraging and supporting sector specific innovations.
“This year’s challenge has a clear focus: to encourage sector-specific innovation among our youth in the postal and courier services industry. By harnessing the creativity and energy of our young minds, we aim to address the unique needs of this sector. Our approach provides a framework for solving industry-specific challenges and sets a blueprint for future initiatives, including our 2025 hackathon, which will explore innovations across various key sectors.”
Government is aware of the need to adopt new trends in the postal and courier services sector, hence the finalisation of the new postal and courier services policy.
The Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Dingumuzi Puthi said, “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 that our postal and courier services must up their game. From a policy level we have finalised a new postal and courier services policy. We are also working an 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.”
Team FASA walked away with US$50 000 after taking the pole position.
Blitztech got US$45 000 after taking second place, while TINYA A.I walked away with US$40 000 after coming third.
