Lauches first ever digital VTM post at Maun Post Office
Botswana Post in robust digitisation to maximise growth
CEO Ramatlhakwane upbeat, promises more developments
Minister Segokgo lauds Botswana Post for robust digitisation
BAKANG TIRO
editors@thepatriot.co.bw
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Botswana Post Cornelius Ramatlhakwane has said that the Post Office has successfully delivered on its mission to unlock growth despite the harsh Covid-19 pandemic impact.
Speaking at the launch of Virtual Teller Machine (VTM) – the first of its kind in Africa and the opening of the refurbished Post Office on Friday – the buoyant Ramatlhakwane said the Post Office is wired for growth.
He said they adopted an interim strategy to cushion against the Covid-19 effects last year.
According to him, they set aside budget of P7 million to refurbish 10 post office including adding of new ones, indicating that the Maun project has cost P750 000 including the VTM.
“We realised the potential of Maun as tourism hub hence we saw it fit to add the VTM to our services. The second phase of VTM will be targeting the old pensioners to get their money on the machine and one thing that makes the service unique is that customers will be able to get their money, including the coins. Bank Gaborone has since shown interest on the VTM,” he said.
Furthermore, Botswana Post head honcho said they are on quest to make their services digital.
He indicated that despite financial constraints, they are managing to do more with less.
“The refurbishments of the post offices country wide have not been reserved any budget in the National Development Plan (NDP 11) and as a result we devised some of the strategies on how to get the developments being done. Such include looking out for partnerships from other local stakeholders. The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) has pledged P2.5 million for the refurbishments of Post offices,” said Ramatlhwane oozing with confidence.
The Minister of Transport and Communications, Thulagano Segokgo, said the pioneering of VTM by Botswana Post is a step in the right direction as Botswana shifts to a knowledge-based economy. He added that Botswana Post has been instrumental in advancing the government’s reset agenda.
“One of the pillars of the reset agenda is prioritisation of digitisation and this amounts to robust infrastructural development, hence Botswana Post is supporting the government’s commitment. In addition, we commend Botswana Post for delivering projects on budget and on time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of Botswana Post Board of Directors, Nathan Kgabi, reiterated the Post Office‘s commitment to expand on its services anchored by the 2020 interim strategy that they adopted.
He said Botswana Post has stood the test of the time as it has managed to remain relevant.
“Covid-19 has brought a lot of anxiety but through the interim strategy that we put on place we have been able to remain strong as the business. Digitalisation of our services is a top priority. There have been new very competitive players who came into the game but we are much alive,” said Kgabi.
Botswana Post embarked on a project to refurbish the post offices in some parts of the country and anticipates connecting new VTM in other branches as part of expanding services.
First of its kind in Botswana and African continent at large, Botswana Post is confident that the VTM machine will unlock growth as the machine has the potential to attract new clients.
With the tourism town of Maun being the first to have the machine, the town leadership is very confident that the machine will revive the town’s economy by unlocking growth for tourism businesses.