Diversification has helped Malawi Postal Corporation

The emergence of information and communication technology (ICT) has not affected post office services due to diversification, Malawi Postal Corporation (MPC) postmaster general Godfrey Itaye has said.

Postal services business has gone down as most people, who used to communicate through letters, are now using cell phones or Internet.

But Itaye said he does not look at the emergence of ICT as a threat but a platform to develop.

“The emergence of ICT has forced us to think big which has resulted into diversification. In addition to traditional postal business, we are also engaged in non-traditional businesses like being agents of other organisations.

“For example, we are selling magetsi cards for Escom (Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi), airtime, transacting bill payments and many others,” said Itaye last week in Blantyre as Malawi took part in World Post Day commemoration which falls on October 9.

He also expressed satisfaction with fast cash postal service which enables people to send or receive money across the country.

Last year, MPC made a profit of K44 million against a loss of K87 million the previous year. Itaye hopes the parastatal will again post a profit this year.

Universal Postal Union (UPU) director general Bishar Hussein reiterated the importance of postal services even in the ICT era.

“Today, posts are poised to play a very important role in a new wave of globalisation being ushered in by the Internet which calls for greater inclusion of citizens everywhere.

“With half of the world’s population living in rural areas, the postal network is well placed to reach them,” said Hussein in a statement marking the commemoration.