HARARE - A local courier services company has been dragged to court on criminal charges for allegedly operating without a valid licence.
Megapost International Freight, represented by its managing director Luka Moyana denied the allegations of contravening the Postal and Telecommunications Act, when it appeared before Harare magistrate Georgina Tsatsawani Ndava last Friday.
According to state papers, the complainant is the State, represented by Taurai Lazarus Makuvise, who is employed as an executive officer, courier services with the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz).
The allegations against Megapost arose after Potraz engaged its debt collectors, Muzangaza and Partners to deliver letters of demand to its clients.
Muzangaza and Partners allegedly sought the services of Megapost to deliver the said letters on its behalf.
Prosecutor Fransisca Mukumbiri said Megapost failed to deliver the letters on three occasions for Bluesat Access (Pvt) Ltd, Broadlands Networks (Pvt) Ltd and Qualtime Communications.
Muzangaza and Partners later reported to Potraz that Megapost had failed to deliver the letters.
Potraz discovered that Megapost was allegedly operating a courier business without a valid licence as required by the law.
However, Moyana told the court his company was properly registered but was working as an agent for DHL International Freight.
He said there was a memorandum of understanding between DHL and his company.
Asked to comment on the memorandum of understanding, Makuvise said it looked like a draft agreement, because it did not have signatures from DHL representatives.
Makuvise said his department was responsible for the issuance of postal and courier licences and according to his records Megapost’s operating licence expired in 2012.
He said the company had not renewed its licence a year after its expiry.
Makuvise said after realising that Megapost was operating illegally, he issued out a postal service termination order, instructing the company to stop operations.
Moyana said his company had made three attempts to renew its licence but got no response from Potraz.
However, Makuvise said there are certain requirements that have to be met before the processing of a new licence, which Megapost failed to meet.
He said Megapost was not paying its annual fees.
The matter was postponed to January 16 for continuation.