TCRA reminds informal couriers to get formalised

THE Tanzania Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has reminded informal parcel delivery services providers, to formalise their activities by obtaining licence from the authority.

Any person or entity wishing to start courier business will have to apply for a licence from the authority.

Addressing a postal stakeholders’ meeting here in Mbeya, TCRA Southern Highlands Zonal Manager, Mr Asajile John, told the gathering that possessing the authority’s licence has positive impact on service providers’ income, because customers prefer the formal ones.

“The increase in the number of customers leads to upsurge in revenues, hence boosting national income,” Mr John said, adding that to simplify issuance of the licences, TCRA has introduced an online system for issuance of the licences called ‘Tanzanite’.

This system enables the service providers to apply for the licence through online system, something which eases perfomance and saves costs.

He added that if the applicants of the licence face any challenge in the course of application, the authority encourages them to seek help from it through its customer service desk.

The stakeholders’ meeting in the region is part of TCRA campaign to motivate citizens to use formal parcel delivery service providers as well as encouraging informal service providers to register with the authority.

Licensing as a regulatory mechanism aims to promote effective competition in supply of services which in turn benefits consumers in terms of tariffs and good quality of services.

In general, postal service means a conventional postal, hybrid postal and courier services. A courier service means a specialised service for the speed collection, conveyance and delivery of postal articles other than letters.

Courier items are mainly documents, packages, packets and parcels shipments and are traditionally delivered quickly. A letter means a form of written communication in the nature of current and personal correspondence and includes postcards.

While the collection, conveyance and delivery of letters are part of the reserved areas of the Public Postal Licensee or Designated Operator, the courier market segment is open for competition in Tanzania.