28 Jan 2024

The delivery of Salajwe Post Office, is another milestone in bringing an array of essential services closer to people and creating new economic opportunities, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Communications, Knowledge and Technology, Mr Pontsho Pusoetsile has said.

Mr Pusoetsile expressed the sentiments during the official opening of Salajwe Post Office on Thursday.
Construction of the post office was made possible by partnership of BotswanaPost and Letlhakeng District Council through Constituency Community funding.

Mr Pusoetsile  applauded BotswanaPost’s continued efforts of delivering such facilities across the country.

He said despite the absence of a dedicated government budget for post office construction and renovation, BotswanaPost had actively collaborated with other state-owned entities to secure funding for new infrastructure projects.

He said Salajwe was among the post offices funded by BOCRA, with a recognisable contribution from the local community.

Under the Communications Regulations Authority Act (CRA) of 2012, he stated, BOCRA had assumed the responsibility of supervising postal service provision in Botswana.

The regulatory body, he said, played a crucial role in safeguarding the interests of consumers and stakeholders, assuring Batswana that their needs remained a top priority.

He expressed gratitude to BotswanaPost for its efforts in improving postal services across the nation and acknowledged the unwavering support of the key partners such as BOCRA and the Letlhakeng District Council in this transformative journey.

He said the collaborative approach to infrastructure development also extended to the construction of the Tati Siding Commercial Centre project done in conjunction with the North East District, a pioneering venture for BotswanaPost set to be launched next month.

Mr Pusoetsile said the post office would not only serve as a reliable and convenient mail centre but also offered digital and financial services to spur economic growth and improve livelihoods in the district.

The post office is a testament to Botswana government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, he said, adding that it was more than a facility as it was a job opportunity for many and a hub for the community postal services in Salajwe and neighbouring communities.

He said as the nation embarked on the 4th industrial revolution, there was a need to have postal services that were fit for purpose and relating very well to the current generation of users.

“We will indulge in innovation, digitalise postal and government social services by exploring robust local and international partnerships to harness infrastructure and technology development, while preserving the core values of post reliability and trust,” he stated.

Letlhakeng District Council Chairperson, Mr Anderson Mathibe said the community contributed over P950 000 through Constituency Community Projects (CCP) fund  towards the project.

Mr Mothibe thanked Ms Itumeleng Gaedupi, director of Moshae investment PTY LTD for delivering the project after the initial contractor abandoned it.

He said the council’s partnership with BotswanaPost would go a long way in helping the Salajwe community.

In his address, board chairperson of Universal Access and Service Fund (UASF), Mr Itumeleng Batsalelwang spoke of how a post office played a key role in keeping countries, economies and people connected, saying it had been the case for many years as postal services were among the country’s oldest public services.

He said postal services were established in 1875 by the London Missionary Society and in those early days mail was delivered by runners.

He said the post office had now transformed to offer a variety of services including financial services and government services.

He explained that UASF was established to operate as a specialised fund aimed at facilitating the communication services extension comprising postal networks, ICT connectivity and broadcasting signal coverage to unserved and underserved areas within Botswana.

He the UASF had focused its intervention on providing communication services to underserved and unserved communities around the country covering such areas as Kgalagadi, Mabutsane, Ghanzi and Kweneng.

He said funding from the UASF had benefitted the broadcasting space where communities that previously did not have access to commercial broadcast signal coverage were now able to enjoy private broadcasting programmes.

BotswanaPost Chief Executive Officer, Mr Cornelius Ramatlhakwane hailed the partnership between BOCRA and the Letlhakeng District Council.

He challenged the two to consider compensating the contribution made by the community, citing funds from CPP and land from VDC where the post office was built.

In his vote of thanks, Member of Parliament for Takatokwane,Mr Tshoganetso Leuwe said with the construction of the post office at Salajwe members of the community would no longer travel to Letlhakeng for services offered by the post office. This, he said, would also reduce travelling and associated costs.

About P1.7 million has been spent on this project. The facility has up-market counters and currently has 50 mail boxes with 33 of them having been already allocated. ENDS