The Sunday News
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE new Pan African Postal Union (PAPU) secretary-general, Mr Sifundo Chief Moyo, who is Zimbabwe postmaster general has dedicated his election to the country.
Mr Moyo was elected uncontested after Mali withdrew its candidate while Mr Sameh Solaiman of Egypt was disqualified on the 11th hour as he did not meet all requirements. The elections were held in the early hours of yesterday (Saturday) in Victoria Falls ending the 10th session of the Pan African Postal Union Plenipotentiary conference and the 39th ordinary session of the Administration Council that had started last Monday.
President Mnangagwa had earlier officially opened the conference where he implored PAPU member states to be guided by African values and principles of the Africa Union Charter. Unity of purpose and respect for African values of togetherness and integration of the motherland prevailed as member states finally found each other after debating for hours.
Mr Moyo was declared winner unchallenged and takes over from Mr Gjibrine Younnous from Tanzania. Ms Jessica Hope Ssengooba of Uganda beat Messrs Amadou Abdou Waziri and Sibiri Michel Kabre of Niger and Burkina Faso for the deputy secretary post. Ms Ssengooba won after the fourth round as none of the three candidates had gotten two thirds majority vote in the first three attempts. Voting was done online through a secret ballot.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Moyo said history had been made as this is the first time the PAPU secretary- general post has come to Southern Africa.
“I am deeply honoured and sincerely grateful to have been elected as secretary-general. This is a special moment in my life and a momentous occasion of national pride for my country. Zimbabwe, this is for you and it should be a foundation of dreams and aspirations for young people. It took President Mnangagwa and Vice- President Constantino Chiwenga to officiate at what is turning to be my send-off event and I am very pleased and humbled to accept this,” said Mr Moyo.
He paid gratitude to the postal family as he reiterated his vision to digitise and transform the postal services and seek strategic partnerships to enhance viability of the sector.
“I want to thank my President, Vice-President and Minister (ICT, Postal and Courier Services Dr Jenfan Muswere) and every postal family for all the support given to the campaign. My work is cut-out and I can assure you I will diligently and whole heartedly execute my functions and duties.
“I will support all countries and regions equally. Strategic partnerships will be sought and I want to see more activity between PAPU, the postal mother body Union of Postal Unions and sub regional bodies with whom we will explore areas of mutual interest,” said Mr Moyo.
He said necessary frameworks will be put in place to ensure adequate support and advisory services for governments and ministries. Ms Ssengooba is manager corporate relations postal in Uganda and her election is an achievement for one of PAPU’s goals of promoting gender equality. She said the challenges lying ahead in the sector are an opportunity for member countries to work together, as she dedicated her election to women and the youth in the continent.
“I would like to assure you that in choosing me you have chosen a tenacious individual, a person who prioritises consensus and driven to relentless pursue the PAPU values. This victory is not mine alone, I would like to congratulate the Government of Uganda, East African Community member states, Sadc and Arab region as entries African family. Thank you for giving an African woman a chance to co-pilot this transformation journey that we are embarking on,” she said.
Minister Muswere who also took over the chairmanship of PAPU, said the conference had been successful as member states upheld the spirit of African unity and integrity.
“As we embark on this, let’s reflect together on what we stand for and what is our collective vision as a people. We stand for the protection of the sanctity of Pan African vision that underlines our constitutional order and existence. I implore us as PAPU family to remain vigilant to ensure relevance of the post and ultimate goal of a digital economy of Africa as enunciated in the AU Agenda 2063,” he said.
President Mnangagwa had earlier said: “As this Plenipotentiary conference undertakes the business of election of personnel of the union including that of the secretary-general, let us keep in mind the importance of the indispensable principles and values embodied in the African Union Charter.
“These include the advancement of continental integration and ensuring that regional economic communities are adequately represented in the administrative hierarchies of agencies and institutions of African Union. The selection of new leadership of agencies of the AU including PAPU must be understood within the framework of renewal and servant-hood.
“We cannot all serve in leadership positions at the same time. It is a relay where the baton is passed on to the next group of persons for the collective good of our continent. There are no winners or losers, it is Africa as a whole which wins.”-@ncubeleon
