BOTSWANAPOST OPENS TUMASERA, RAKOPS AND PANDAMATENGA POST OFFICES
Botswanapost’s ambitious drive to revamp their dilapidated Post Offices across the country has been hailed a massive success by Vice President Slumber Tsogwane. When the 2021/2022 financial year began, Botswanapost set out to improve and grow its postal services footprint across the country by opening ten (10) newly refurbished or built Post Offices by the end of the period. This commitment came despite the plan lacking government funding through NDP11. Botswanapost overcame this impediment to successfully deliver seven (7) refurbished and newly built Post Offices to communities nation-wide with a budget of just over BWP Seven Million (P7 000 000.00).
In the last five days, Botswanapost officially handed over three Post Offices in Tumasera, Rakops and Pandamatenga where different speakers hailed its board for their visionary leadership. In total Botswanapost has opened seven refurbished and newly built Post Offices for their 2021/2022 financial year. These include Post Offices in Sikwane, Ramotlabaki, Ntlhantlhe, Maun, Tumasera, Rakops and Pandamatenga. These Post Office have been hailed as a step in achieving the company’s strategic goal of creating and preserving Post Office values.
Speaking at the official opening of the new Post Office in Tumasera last Thursday, Chief Executive Officer Cornelius Ramatlhakwane said upon his ascension to the CEO’S office, he took a countrywide tour of their properties and was appalled by what he saw.
“I made a decision that accommodation for our staff and Post Offices needed refurbishing as a matter of urgency,” he said.
Ramatlhakwane said despite the financial challenges they set themselves a target of 10 Post Offices.
“We had to do more with little, and I’m happy today to announce that we managed 70 percent of our target,” he said.
The CEO said the need for Post Offices is now greater than ever before, and further implored the youth to buy digital post boxes in order to have access to service at the tip of their fingers.
Improvements at the Post Offices include amongst others extension of the building, installation of a new intruder alarm system, re-enforcement of the strong room and installation of burglar proof on all openings, re-configuration of the building to
increase the banking hall and introduce a server room, strong room, bathroom, tea room, CB and a Branch Manager’s office.
Speaking at the same event Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Honourable Mabuse Pule applauded Botswanapost Management for building a fully equipped modern office with just P650 000.
He said if there was enough money, every single village would have its own Post Office.
His sentiments were shared by Minister of Transport and Communications Honourable Thulagano Merafe Segokgo who was officiating at the official handing over ceremony of the refurbished Rakops Post Office on Saturday.
Segokgo also emphasized the importance of Post Offices in bridging the communication gap in Botswana.
Giving the keynote address, Vice President, and Member of Parliament for Boteti West Slumber Tsogwane commended Botswanapost for the initiative. Tsogwane who said he was not aware of the magnitude of the task undertaken by Botswanapost in his home village hailed the handing over as an achievement under very difficult circumstances.
“We were worried that Post Offices were becoming obsolete, as everyone is using cellphones to receive mail. But today I realise that when we talk about the fourth industrial revolution, Botswanapost stands out as a good example. You’ve managed to re-set and today you are a one stop service centre,” said Tsogwane.
The Vice President said the role played by Post Offices especially in rural areas cannot be over emphasized.
“It connects villages and families, and I wish for more offices to be built across the country,” Tsogwane said.
On Monday to wind down what has been a hectic week, Botswanapost handed over a refurbished Post Office in Pandamatenga.
Giving the keynote address at the event, Botswana Communications Regulations Authority (BOCRA) Director of Licensing Tebogo Mmoshe said a Post Office forms a key part of Botswana’s communications infrastructure. She said the expansion of service delivery capacity in Pandamatenga Post Office represents an investment in the village’s economic future. 4
“Botswana in small, medium and large communities around the country need the connectivity and financial inclusion provided by a post office right now,” she said.
She further said BOCRA will continue ensuring provision of safe, reliable, efficient and affordable postal services throughout Botswana. To this end, BOCRA committed to funding four Post Offices for the financial year of 2022/2023 to the value of 2.9 million pula.