ZIMBABWE Posts (Pvt) Ltd (Zimpost) is inviting members of the public, private and public organisations to submit proposals for the next year postage stamp programme as the struggling entity tries to maintain relevance in the market now dominated by information communication technologies (ICTs).
Own correspondent
In a notice published yesterday, the company said the proposals for the postage stamp programme must be submitted not later than August 16 this year.
A postage stamp is a special instrument of communicating the country’s image locally and abroad, especially of the values and subjects related to its national and cultural identity.
“The proposal must bear our national identity that is serving as a tool that celebrates and promotes our national heritage,” part of the notice reads.
The business of sending letters continues to decline as most companies and individuals have now adopted ICTs which are more efficient.
Zimpost recorded a drop in snail mail to 15 million from a peak of 100 million mail pieces in 2000, as most of its customers are now using Internet-based communication systems and other technologies like mobile phones.
In trying to stay afloat, the company has been forced to turn to real estate and renting out its properties to generate revenue, as it has been struggling to pay its employees or increase their salaries.
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As such the company on several occassions has been taken to court by its employees over salary disputes.
Recently it contested an arbitral award compelling it to pay its workers an increment and salary arrears in excess of $2 million arguing that its business had been dwindling since 2005, as most clients had resorted to electronic billing and self-delivery of bills to customers.
Zimpost employees have been pushing for a minimum salary increase of $450 per month from the current $150. But Zimpost argued that paying such an amount had an effect of driving the company into insolvency.
As part of efforts to revamp operations, the company announced last year that it would introduce a new mailing system worth $5,1 million called “hybrid mail’’ where clients’ mails or statements would be sent electronically to different strategic points across the country.
However, the plan still remains in the pipeline.
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