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The Herald, 29 July 2005
ZIMPOST is set to launch one-stop-shop facilities in its postal outlets countrywide this year.

Managing director Mrs Gladys Mutyavaviri said the shops would provide e-mail, Internet services, phone shops, fax and photocopying services.

A pilot project had been set up at the Harare Main Post Office where new products were being offered under the cyber centre concept.

“ZimPost has since replicated similar infrastructure at Bulawayo and Mutare main post offices and they are currently offering phone shop services only and are still in the process of introducing new products and services as well,” said Mrs Mutyavaviri.

ZimPost has also entered into a strategic alliance with insurance giant NicozDiamond that will see the postal services utility offering insurance services at its post offices.

The company’s mandate is to facilitate communication within Zimbabwe and with other countries, developing rural areas and generating foreign currency inflows into the country by processing international mail and providing international money transfer services.

ZimPost is also planning to open more than 10 post offices countrywide by the end of the year.

Funds for the construction of the post offices in Masvingo, Midlands, Epworth, Mashonaland Central, and Matabeleland North would be provided by Government under the 2004/05 Productive Sector Investment Programme.

LESSONS FOR TODAY
 The radical transformations in information communication technologies has seriously affected major organisations like ZimPost. Although Mrs Mutyavaviri looked like she was on the track, the unfortunate scenario is that globally, technology has also been changing at a pace that ZimPost could not match.

The ICT changes call for innovative strategies that would make ZimPost relevant to its clients countrywide, especially the rural folk who depended heavily on its products and services.

2020 marked ZimPost’s 20th anniversary, with 130 years of postal services in the country. This followed the unbundling of the Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (PTC). ZimPost is now under the Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Courier Services under Minister Jenfan Muswere.

At the commemoration of World Postal Day this year, ZimPost acting managing director said despite the changes, ZimPost remained committed to serving all citizens and would ensure that it diversified its services in order to meet the technological changes experienced worldwide.

According to the ZimPost chief, “People have not changed, but their communication needs have changed.”

For historical information contact:
Zimpapers Knowledge Centre at Herald House on:
+263 8677 004323;
+263 0242 795771
E-mail: [email protected]