By Zimbabwe landed the top post for the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU)’s, a first for the SADC region in 41 years after being voted for in a hotly competed race in Victoria falls, which saw fierce arguments erupting as Egypt a favorite of the Aribian countries being dismissed on technicality.
Mr. Sifundo Chief Moyo of Zimbabwe, the post master general of Zimpost landed the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU)’s Secretary-General post during the PAPU’s 10th Ordinary session held in Victoria Falls over the weekend.
One hundred and twenty nine delegates from 25 African Union countries, according to Information Communication Technologies (ICT), Postal and Courier Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere, attended the week-long 10th Ordinary Session of the elective Plenipotentiary Conference and 39th Ordinary Session of the Papu Administrative Council conference which was officially opened by President Mnangagwa here yesterday afternoon.
A total 32 of the 44 member States attended where voting to elect the new leadership was part of the main agenda of the business.
However Egypt which seemed to be gathering momentum and posed as as the greatest contender was dismissed on a technicality as they failed to submit heir candidature in time before deadlines.
Egypt had been disqualified as its candidate filed an application after the closing date which had been set for March 11, 2020, while the application was also incomplete. The call for applications was sent six months before the cut-off date
PAPU secretariat received a request from Egypt on May 2, 2020 seeking extension of deadline but the request was turned down as this would have led to protest from other candidates.
according to the credentials committee report.
Egypt had named Head of the National Post Authority Sameh Suleiman for the position.
A serious debate ensued soon after the presentation of a report by the credentials committee which stated that Benin, Tunisia, Malawi and Morocco were ineligible to vote as they have not paid annual contributions to PAPU for more than two consecutive years.
All the three candidates for the assistant secretary general post Messrs. Amadou Abdou Waziri and Sibiri Michel Kabre of Niger and Burkina Faso and Ms Jesica of Uganda met the requirements.
Pan African Postal Union (PAPU) is a specialized institution of the African Union. Its main objective is to coordinate all activities aimed at developing postal services on the African continent. PAPU was established by the constitutive Plenipotentiary Conference of African ministers in charge of postal services, held in 1980 in Arusha, Tanzania.
PAPU conference addressed a set of topics including the operational and technical aspects of the postal services, financial inclusion as well as digital transformation of the post authorities in Africa.
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