12 Oct 2014

The evolution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has forced post offices to be upgraded to suit current trends, says the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Nonofo Molefhi.

Officiating at the World Post Office Day Commemoration and launch of the poso card in Sebina, Mr Molefhi noted that there were many service providers that offer similar services given by post offices.

He said the competition forced post offices to upgrade their services to include services that would earn them revenue to make profits. He noted that before the evolution of ICT to become what it was today, post offices played a critical role as a link for relaying mail across the world.

He noted that with the current developments where information could be relayed instantly through phones, short messages (SMS), the Internet and social media, the volume of mail has declined substantially. 

The minister also noted that mail delivery was no longer a good revenue stream for post offices.

The gradual decline in business mail, he said, was forcing national postal service operators around the world to redefine themselves in communications services provisioning, adding that the changing landscape where other players entered the market has seen the post office facing stiff competition.“This is why post offices must claim their position in the changing communication landscape,” he emphasised.

The minister noted that BotswanaPost like other posts around the world was leveraging on its network to form strategic partnerships to provide essential services to communities. He added that the post office has entered into partnerships for payments of pensioners, distribution of air time and payment of farmers through their banking services.

Furthermore, he noted that through his ministry’s telecommunication department and postal services in collaboration with BotswanaPost and other stakeholders, they have come up with a policy and regulatory intervention which would enable the post to stay relevant.

Minister Molefhi said as one of the oldest organisations in the country, the post has been seeking ways to evolve within the changing communication arena. ENDS