Zimbabwe has called on African nations to pursue bold reforms and embrace innovation in order to modernise the continent’s postal sector, as the 11th Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Postal Union (PAPU) Plenipotentiary Conference opened yesterday in Kampala, Uganda.
Minister of Information, Communication, Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, who chairs the conference, urged countries to accelerate digitalisation, strengthen partnerships, and adopt transformative strategies to ensure Africa’s postal services remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
“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.
Mavetera noted that while the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities within the postal ecosystem, it also unlocked new opportunities in e-commerce logistics, digital services and last-mile delivery solutions.
She cautioned, however, that emerging challenges, including geopolitical tensions, economic instability, supply chain disruptions and fast-moving technological shifts should continue to place pressure on postal operations across the continent.
The conference is expected to deliberate on key policy frameworks such as the African Postal Strategy for 2026–2030 and the accompanying Programme of Activities.
Mavetera emphasised the need for practical, 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 applauded African countries for aligning the PAPU programme with the Universal Postal Union, describing the alignment as essential in strengthening Africa’s standing within the global postal ecosystem.
As Zimbabwe prepares to hand over the chairmanship, Mavetera highlighted that the country’s tenure had been shaped by global disruptions, institutional reforms and renewed strategic direction, reaffirming Zimbabwe’s commitment to supporting PAPU’s future initiatives.
