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Mthabisi Tshuma, [email protected]

ZIMBABWE is part of the participants at the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Fourth Extraordinary Congress that kicked off on Sunday and ends on Thursday in Saudi Arabia.

UPU member countries selected the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as host following a vote during the October 2022 plenary meeting of the UPU‘s Council of Administration.

The Zimbabwean delegation is led by Minister of Information Communication Technologies, Postal and Courier Services Dr Tatenda Mavetera.

UPU – the United Nations specialised agency responsible for leading the development, regulation, interoperability and sustainability of the international postal network is held under the Patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The congress is the supreme decision-making body of the UPU, convening plenipotentiaries from the organisation’s 192 member countries every four years. An Extraordinary Congress is convened at the request of member countries when there are urgent postal sector issues pending decision that cannot wait until the next quadrennial meeting.

During the Fourth Extraordinary Congress, UPU member countries will discuss opening the Union to wider postal sector players, as well as planning a path forward on climate action in the sector, the future of postal financial services and other urgent sectoral matters.

In a statement, UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s generosity in hosting the global postal community, including Ministers, CEOs of postal operators and partners of the postal sector, as well as UPU secretariat staff.

“This Extraordinary Congress comes at a pivotal moment for the UPU when the organisation is engaged in building new partnerships and bridges with all segments of the postal sector at large.

“The proposals being examined at this Congress strive to guarantee that postal services around the globe meet the needs and expectations of all people and businesses in an ever-changing environment, while contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable future,” said Mr Metoki.

Posting on her X (Twitter) timeline on Sunday mid-morning, Minister Mavetera said Zimbabwe will use the opportunity to enhance growth in the sector.

“(We are) at the Universal Postal Union Congress were 192 member countries will deliberate on postal development issues. Our own ZimPost which is already in the digital sphere will pursue E-commerce growth in line with Zimbabwe’s digital transformation agenda as we leverage on digitisation for postal sector survival,” said Minister Mavetera.

The Universal Postal Union is a UN specialised agency with its headquarters in the Swiss capital Berne. Established in 1874, it is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players and helps to ensure a truly universal network of modern postal products and services.

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