POSTAL & COURIER

 

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The Postal Directorate oversees regulation of all postal services in the country in terms of their nature, form, scope, mode of postage, technology used, service standards and attributes

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Issuance of licences to all operators
  • Regulation of tariffs for basic services
  • Enforcement of regulations to ensure compliance with licence conditions and order in the postal market.
  • Identification of appropriate technologies, systems and methods for widening access to postal services in rural and disadvantaged areas
  • Promotion of competition among postal service providers
  • Implementation of National Postal Policy

TYPES OF LICENSES

The Authority issues the following type of licences which are for a specific use;

  • Issuance of licences to all operators
  • Regulation of tariffs for basic services
  • Enforcement of regulations to ensure compliance with licence conditions and order in the postal market.
  • Identification of appropriate technologies, systems and methods for widening access to postal services in rural and disadvantaged areas
  • Promotion of competition among postal service providers
  • Implementation of National Postal Policy

COURIER LICENCE CATEGORIES

Courier services licences fall under the following categories;

The exclusive rights conferred on the Designated Postal Operator are not infringed by the conveyance and delivery of:

  • International Commercial Courier Service Licence
  • Domestic (Inter-City) Commercial Courier Service Licence
  • Domestic Commercial Courier Service Licence
  • Domestic/Freight Forwarding Services Commercial Courier Licence
  • District/Intra city Courier Services licence

UNIVERSAL POSTAL SERVICES

Universal Postal Service is the guarantee of a service encompassing a minimum range of services of specified quality to be provided at an affordable price for the benefit of all users, irrespective of their geographical location. The UPS plays a very important role in binding the nation together, facilitating citizen inclusion, and ensuring necessary postal service to remote areas.

The Malawi Posts Corporation (MPC) as the Designated Postal Operator and hence the Universal Postal Service provider, has the following exclusive rights to allow it fulfil its obligations under the Universal service;

  • Letter boxes

    Installation and Operating of personal letter boxes and collection boxes;

  • Letter Weighing

    Exclusivity in conveyance of letters weighing not more than 350 grams from one place to another.

  • Key Words

    Exclusive rights to use the words “Post Office” “letter box” on any office or building

  • Stamps

    Printing and issuance of Postage Stamps

  • Philatelic Services

EXCEPTIONS OF EXCLUSIVITY

The exclusive rights conferred on the Designated Postal Operator are not infringed by the conveyance and delivery of:

  • A letter weighing up to 350g with the following features,

  • Within a specified timeframe as stipulated in the licence
  • Track and Trace
  • Door to door delivery
  • Record of delivery
  • The price is 3x what the DPO charges for the same

  • letters carried by a person having a business interest in the letters, and the collection of letters for that purpose;
  • letters concerning goods sent with the goods and delivered therewith;
  • letters carried to and from a post office;
  • letters carried privately and delivered without hire, reward or profit.