BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE – Minister of Public Works and Transport Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe has today launched a Motor Vehicle License Disc Collection and Distribution innovation through the Postal Division of the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC). This is one of Government’s efforts to decentralise services, especially to rural areas, through the use of ICTs and is an extension of the *468# electronic platform.
Through this platform, emaSwati will now be able to collect their licence discs from their nominated Post Offices across the country within 24 hours of completion of the mobile payment transaction and receipt of the confirmation Text Message (SMS) or have their disc delivered at a stipulated address by EPTC’s Phutfuma Courier Services.
Minister Ndwandwe, who was represented by Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg, said, “This is in line with Government’s quest to improve service delivery to emaSwati. Government is committed to bringing effective and efficient platforms that will help improve service delivery across all departments.”
Minister Ndwandwe revealed that “In October last year, the Ministry launched a partnership with MTN Eswatini to implement the cashless payment system for Motor Vehicle Licence Renewals, bringing this service to every motorist’s cellular phone. For almost nine (9) months, we have been adapting to this system. I am pleased to have also learnt that to-date, despite initial teething problems, emaSwati are happy with this service.”
“Following the launch of this Mobile Payment Platform, and careful consideration, it was fitting that a collaboration with EPTC be established to take full advantage of the postal services infrastructure to further decentralise the Ministry’s service offering to the public,” added Minister Ndwandwe.
Minister Ndwandwe noted that over the years, the local economy has pioneered and adopted innovative financial transaction platforms based on mobile communications technology to overwhelming success. Coupled with the very high mobile phone user uptake by emaSwati, these mobile platforms have increased the country’s financial inclusion aspirations and made transacting easy. “Now we are bridging the gap and ensuring that ease of doing business is significantly improved; as enshrined in the Strategic Road Map,” he added.
EPTC MD Thembumkhululi Khumalo also expressed appreciation for the collaboration. “This collaboration demonstrates the inherent capacity within Government’s ecosystem demonstrated today by the collaboration between Ministry of Works and Ministry of ICT. The learning is, don’t replicate what exists and working, we are building on the synergies between Government and its commercial enterprise EPTC,” said Khumalo.
To access this enhanced service, vehicle owners simply have to enter *468# on the MTN Eswatini network and follow the prompts from the convenience of their homes or work places, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Vehicle owners will then be able to choose how they will receive their discs based on the new options provided.
