Macra for sanity in courier sector

By Wezzie Nkhoma-Somba, contributor:

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) is engaging the country’s border posts and roadblock authorities in its drive to sanitise the courier industry in Malawi.

The move is aimed at stemming the influx of individuals and entities operating without permits.

The unlicenced operators are collecting, accepting, conveyancing and delivering items including envelopes and packages.

The Communications Act of 2016 stipulates that operating courier services or conveying courier articles without a valid licence issued by Macra contravenes Section 122 of the Communications Act (Act No. 34 of 2016)

Macra Postal Services Manager Madalo Phiri said in an interview that one of the authority’s strategic goals is to have all unlicenced operator.

“This is why we are carrying out awareness on illegal courier operations across the country.

“We want to raise awareness of Macra’s mandate in regulating postal and courier services to other government departments based at entry points of the country and those placed in the strategic roadblocks,” she said.

Macra is, therefore, engaging officers from the Malawi Police Service, Malawi Revenue Authority, Immigration Department, Malawi Bureau of Standards and agriculture and forestry departments.

Public Relations Officer for Songwe Border Immigration in Karonga Yusuf Shaibu said they are ready to work with Macra in fostering legal courier operations.

“We embrace the initiative and are glad that Macra has engaged us to work as a team in sanitising the courier industry. For a long time, we have seen transporters from outside the country operating illegally as courier operators,” Shaibu said.

Macra Communications Manager Zadziko Mankhambo said the authority will ensure that licenced operators have outlets in the licenced areas as per their operating licences.

Macra will carry out another licence re-categorisation in the next financial year to introduce new categories.

Currently, the country has 33 licenced postal and courier operators.