Post office box fees revised
The Malawi Posts Corporation (MPC) has increased rentals for its boxes by at least 40 percent, postmaster general Andrew Kumbatira has said.
He said the adjustment has been done with government’s approval to enable the parastatal to carry out its duties effectively.
The development comes against the background of the surge in the cost of living and that of operating businesses in Malawi.
The National Statistical Office (NSO) has put the inflation rate for August at 25.5 percent from 21.7 percent the month before, meaning that consumers will have to dig deeper into their pockets to afford basic goods and services.
According to Kumbatira, individual box rentals will now be renewed at K7 000 ($23) from K5 000 ($16) while corporate clients as well as government departments will now have to cough K140 000 ($466) from K100 000 ($334).
But he said people in rural areas have not been affected by the hike as their box rentals remain at K1 000 whereas public primary schools will have to part with K14 000 ($46) instead of K10 000 ($34).
Local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious and educational institutions and small businesses would now be paying K35 000 (about $117) from K20 000 ($66), he said.
Kumbatira advised the public on the importance of owning a box with MPC, saying this ensures safety of their letters.
In August, Kumbatira said MPC proposed to government to reduce personal post office box charges to K5 000 ($16) from K20 000 (about $66).
