Mthabisi Tshuma in Nyamandlovu
THE country’s telecommunications regulator Potraz has amended the Postal and Telecommunications (Postal Services) Regulations thereby creating new and more flexible licence categories designed to accommodate innovative, Potraz director general Dr Gift Machengete has said.
Dr Machengete made the remarks at the commemorations of the World Post Day that was held on Monday at Nyamandlovu in Umguza District, Matabeleland North province.
Dr Machengete said the development has agile new players while safeguarding the sector from potential collapse.
Among the new players are Zimpapers registered with a Commercial Domestic Courier Services license, CAG Tours (Pvt) Ltd t/a CAG Courier Services registered with a Commercial Domestic Courier Services license, Glentrose Logistics t/a Gabs Courier Deliv Express registered with a Commercial Inter-city Courier Services (Harare-VicFalls) license and Flash Delivery Freight (Private) Limited registered with a Commercial Intra-city Courier Services (Harare) license.
“This shift has opened the door for smaller courier operators — including MSMEs and even bus companies — to participate formally in the market. Already, four new operators have been licensed in 2025 under this revised framework. At the same time, international courier giants DHL and FedEx have renewed their licences for another 10 years, demonstrating continued confidence in Zimbabwe as a viable market.
“The new licence categories now available are as follows: The Postal (General) Services Licence, under which only Zimpost is licensed, valid for 20 years; The Commercial International Courier Service Licence, valid for 10 years and permits local and global operations; The Commercial Regional Courier Service Licence, for services across the African region is valid for 10 years; The Commercial Domestic Courier Service Licence for operations within Zimbabwe’s borders is valid for 10 years; The Commercial Intercity Courier Licence for specific routes between designated cities is valid for 10 years; and the Commercial Intra-city Courier Service Licence for operations within a city, town, or rural district. Also valid for 10 years and costs USD500.00,” said Dr Machengete.
He said these categories reflect a sector that is opening up, diversifying, and positioning itself for growth.
“They encourage competition, innovation, and increased service availability — all while maintaining regulatory oversight and sector stability. But licensing alone is not enough. The true opportunity lies in fully leveraging our existing postal infrastructure. Our post offices — with their vast national footprint — are ideally positioned to evolve into Digital Service Centres.
“They can become one-stop gateways for e-government services, e-commerce support, digital payments, financial inclusion, identity services, and access to vital information. This mirrors global trends where postal networks are becoming powerful catalysts for digital participation and economic integration,” said Dr Machengete.
“Imagine a rural grandmother renewing essential documents without the burden of travel. Imagine a young entrepreneur shipping goods across borders with confidence. Imagine farmers receiving timely market data, students accessing online learning, and citizens completing key transactions at their local post office. This is not just a vision; it is aligned with international best practice showing how posts are transforming into inclusive digital ecosystems.
“Even in a world that is rapidly digitalising, the post remains one of the most trusted public institutions — a symbol of reliability and national identity. Our task is to build on that trust, modernize our systems, enhance e-commerce logistics, and ensure that Zimbabwe continues to integrate with global postal and trade networks,” said Dr Gift Machengete.
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