Source: President Mnangagwa hailed for continental development – herald
Debra Matabvu, debra.matabvu@zimpapers.co.zw
ZIMBABWE’S contribution to the construction of the Pan African Postal Union (Papu) headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, demonstrates President Mnangagwa’s commitment to strengthening continental institutions and the development of Africa’s postal sector.
This was said by PAPU secretary-general Dr Sifundo Moyo soon after paying a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare yesterday.
Dr Moyo said Zimbabwe’s support towards the construction of the headquarters had made a remarkable contribution.
He also said President Mnangagwa’s support had been critical to his successful bid for both the first and second terms.
Dr Moyo was re-elected unopposed for a second term on March 25 this year.
“My mission here was to come and express my profound gratitude to His Excellency, the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, for the support that he gave to me during my campaign for the first term of secretary general of PAPU, and also for the second term,” Dr Moyo said.
He also thanked President Mnangagwa for fulfilling a US$20 000 pledge made in 2021 towards the construction of PAPU’S headquarters, over and above the country’s mandatory contribution to the project.
Dr Moyo said Zimbabwe’s contribution demonstrated the Government’s commitment to strengthening continental institutions and the development of Africa’s postal sector.
“I was also here to thank the President, who in 2021, made a pledge that Zimbabwe was going to contribute US$20 000 over and above the mandatory contribution that Zimbabwe was supposed to make towards the construction of the PAPU headquarters in Arusha,” he said.
“Zimbabwe honoured that pledge, the building was completed and commissioned in September 2023.”
Dr Moyo also said the union was accelerating the digitalisation of postal services across the continent, with individual countries implementing programmes aimed at ensuring postal operators remain relevant in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
“We are also pushing the digitalisation of postal services in Africa. Every country now is running the programme of ensuring that the post is positioned in a way that it serves the digital economies that are emerging in Africa,” he said.
Dr Moyo said the union’s 2026-2030 strategy places digital transformation at the centre of its operations, including the adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, which will drive socio-economic development and deliver services to communities.
The strategy is expected to help African postal operators move beyond traditional mail delivery by expanding into digital, financial, logistics and other services demanded by modern economies.
Speaking after the meeting with the President, Information and Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera, said Zimbabwe’s leadership at the PAPU presents an opportunity for the country to accelerate digital transformation, strengthen skills development and attract strategic partnerships in the postal sector.
“Having our own sitting in that position is going to assist us to be able to get capacity building, to also be able to find ways where we can get even partners that are going to assist us in digitally transforming the postal services,” she said.
Minister Mavetera said the postal service was strategic as it bridges the rural and urban divide.
“We can also be able to access a lot of Government services within the postal services, being coordinated by the postal services or the postal sector. In this way, this means that we are going to enhance our digital transformation of the country,” she said.
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