BotswanaPost participates at World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2022 (WTISD)
Commemorated under the theme “Digital Technologies for Older Persons and Healthy Ageing, the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) was celebrated on 17th May 2022 in Mmathubudukwane village. Hosted by the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology in collaboration with the ICT sector, BotswanaPost participated in the festivities by way of exhibiting its products and services at the event. A live Post Office was set up to register those in attendance for PosoMoney as well as allow them to renew their vehicle license onsite along other product offerings. Joining other dignitaries at the event led by the Minister of Communications, Knowledge and Technology – Honorable Thulagano Merafe Segokgo, were BotswanaPost Board Chairperson, Mr. Nathan Monametse Kgabi and the Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Ofentse Mabote together with Board Director Dr Budzanani Tacheba and Company Secretary, Ms. Yarona Sharp. Board Member Mr. Thulaganyo Ntsatsi was also in attendance, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub.
In addition to participating at the event, as part of our support and commitment to building local communities, BotswanaPost pledged support to resource and attend to minor repairs of the community libraries in the area. Libraries provide a space for learning, exchange of ideas, access to information and offer a meeting place for learners and community members. It is against this background that the public is invited to join BotswanaPost in giving a gift of reading by donating books to resource the libraries. Categories include revision books (agriculture, mathematics, sciences, and geography etc), fiction, poetry, nonfiction etc. Book donations can be dropped off at any Post Office near you.
This year’s WTISD theme perfectly aligned with the capabilities that BotswanaPost has developed over the years and strives to continuously improve in serving communities across Botswana, especially those in semi urban and rural areas. BotswanaPost has been providing payments to social service beneficiaries on behalf of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development through the Department since 1996, the service provision has evolved throughout the years to embrace technology.
We have seen over the past decade, automation of the grants payment system from a manual voucher-based system to a fully automated biometric system. To date, BotswanaPost pays over a hundred-and-ten thousand (110 000) beneficiaries per month using state of the art technology that provides real-time customised reports to Local Government.
Financial inclusion is a noted severe problem in most developing countries, and Botswana is no exception. Limited access to financial infrastructure in many villages and even towns and cities limit economic progress for many communities. As BotswanaPost we take pride in acknowledging that our elders are the bedrock of our communities and corporate culture thus the need to bridge the digital divide through our products and services, we have done so through the recent launch of our Virtual Teller Machine pilot project, Virtual Post Boxes and also ensuring that Government social services payments can be accessed at Post Offices, Kiosks and select Choppies Stores.
We endeavour to ensure that services are brought as close as possible to those in need of them, most Post Offices have a schedule of “off-site” payment locations to service communities that do not have access to a conveniently located Post Office. These “off-site” payments are usually conducted in Village Kgotla’s or even where necessary, cattle-posts/ranches (Meraka).
BotswanaPost’s commitment to digitisation and leveraging technology for growth closely mirrors the Government’s push towards harnessing the benefits of the Fourth (4th) Industrial Revolution and aligned with this year’s theme. This alignment will facilitate the expansion of access to Postal services and products to communities in every corner of the country at the lowest possible cost to both the Company and Government. As we digitise however, user experience including that of our elderly is a priority when introducing new technologies in our products and services.
Also, key to note regarding developments done in the Kgatleng region where this year’s commemorations were held was the refurbishment of the Sikwane Post Office. This Post Office services neighbouring villages of Mmathubudukwane, Mabalane and Malolwane. At the start of the Company’s 2021/2022 financial year, Kgatleng’ s relatively large population was serviced by only six (6) Post Offices. The new Ramotlabaki Post Office brought the total to seven (7).
As we look to the future and what we have instore for our customers, we are set to introduce our innovative Digital Post Office platform which will empower SMME’s through a solution that equips the informal sector with an advanced Point of Sale that uses mobile phones to transact. Postal products and services such as airtime, electricity, insurance premium renewal, and DSTV subscription will be availed to retailers of any size and allow them to creatively reinvent their businesses. In addition, over the next three (3) years, BotswanaPost will also develop a Postbank through which we will deliver affordable, tailored, and convenient banking services.
Leveraging our geographic reach, the organisation will deliver independent withdrawals, deposits, savings, and other financial services to communities which have historically lacked dedicated banking infrastructure. Using our unique insights into the needs of Botswana’s rural and urban communities, BotswanaPost will be launching an independent insurance brokerage service. This new service will provide quality insurance products tailored to the needs of our elderly and others.