Courier operators cry foul over unregistered firms
Courier operators in the country have asked government to address the proliferation of unregistered dispatch firms that are affecting the bottom line of legal entities.
Speaking on behalf of the country’s 33 registered courier firms during the commemoration of the World Postal Day in Ntcheu on Friday, DHL International (Malawi) Limited managing director Victor Sitima said proliferation of unregistered courier companies has hit them hard.
He also bemoaned lack of connection flights from major destinations, which he said affects parcel delivery efficiency.
Sitima also bemoaned delays in clearing parcels by border authorities such as the Malawi Police Service and Malawi Revenue Authority.
He said: “It takes a lot of time for the courier bags to be attended by the Malawi Revenue Authority. This is delaying parcel clearance in the country.”
Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu assured the operators that government is addressing their concerns.
He cited the construction of one-stop border posts as one way of reducing the clearing problems at ports of entry.
The governments of Malawi and Zambia jointly inaugurated the Mchinji/Mwami One-Stop Border Post in December as one way of easing the flow of goods, people and services between the two countries and beyond.
“All these show that it’s not only about laying of the infrastructure, but also hastening the processes because one does not have to clear on both sides when exiting one country and entering the other,” said Kunkuyu. World Post Day is celebrated annually on October 9 on the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union, which was established in 1874 in Switzerland. This year the day was celebrated under the theme Post for Planet.
