Implement exchange bureaus in post offices urgently - PS

THE Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology has called for the speedy implementation of the opening of exchange bureaus in post offices.

Principal Secretary Nathaniel Mahluza during the opening of the Southern Africa Postal Operators Association (SAPOA) 8th Annual General Meeting at Orion Piggs Peak Hotel on Monday, said this would help rural communities and migrant workers remit funds to their families.
He noted that in the SADC region over 60% of the people still reside in rural areas, therefore, the speedy implementation of the road transport network, quality service and money transfer regionally are of utmost urgency.
Mahluza applauded the SAPOA for demonstrating firm commitment and professionalism in the manner in which it discharges its mandate as defined in the transport, communications and meteorology protocol.
“The association is the envy of other organisations under the umbrella of the universal postal union, further evidenced by the fact that out of 12 countries that received awards for quality service, eight are from the SADC region,” Mahluza said.
He urged SAPOA to maintain technical co-operation among its members so that there is skills transfer and strengthening of the SADC postal network.
Mahluza stated that governments were faced with the mammoth task of ensuring service delivery to communities, and therefore embrace the SAPOA initiative if working and partnering with government ministries and departments to address the challenge.
He congratulated SwaziPost on successfully implementing a turnaround strategy and on the fact that this year it is expected to make profit for the first time ever, pending finalisation of accounts by external auditors.
“May I confirm government’s commitment to the separation of the two businesses, the postal and telecommunications and that preparations are at an advanced stage to set up an independent regulator for the communications sector.”
The conference which ends tomorrow was attended by delegates SAPOA/SADC delegates from Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Swaziland, Angola, among others.
It is the first time for Swaziland to host the event held to deliberate strategies and map out concrete plans for the strengthening of postal regulatory services within the region.

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