Mozambique's communications regulator, the Instituto Nacional das Comunicações de Moçambique (INCM), has raised the alarm over the continued operation of informal providers in the parcel transport and distribution market, despite the country having 38 licensed postal operators. The regulator warned that unlicensed activity poses challenges to market oversight and consumer protection, in a sector undergoing rapid transformation driven by the growth of e-commerce.

The warning was issued during the first Postal Operators Forum, held on Friday, 9 October, in Maputo, under the theme 'Strengthening Dialogue, Cooperation and Associativism for the Development of the Postal Market in Mozambique'.

According to an INCM statement, the forum brought together sector representatives to discuss market challenges, with a particular focus on informality, service modernisation, and inter-operator cooperation.

Euclides dos Santos, head of INCM's Postal Department, identified informal activity as one of the main obstacles to the organisation and development of Mozambique's postal market. He noted that parcel transport and distribution services continue to be provided by private individuals — including through digital platforms — without the licensing required to carry out such activities.

Dos Santos clarified that the use of licensed digital platforms does not exempt individual service providers from complying with applicable legal obligations, including obtaining authorisation where required.

Massingue Apala, INCM's executive administrator responsible for Regulation, Market Regulation, and Statistics, highlighted the growing importance of postal services to the broader economy, particularly in light of the expansion of e-commerce.

'Today, the postal sector plays an increasingly relevant role in logistics chains and e-commerce, but also in economic inclusion and in connecting people and businesses to markets,' he said.

Apala called for investment in technology, improved geographic coverage, and greater coordination among operators in order to meet demand for faster, safer, and more efficient delivery services.

He also highlighted the approval of three regulatory instruments designed to update the sector's framework: the Postal Sector Development Strategy, the Postal Security Regulation, and the Regulation on the Provision and Exploitation of Postal Services.

However, he cautioned that the existence of rules alone is not sufficient to ensure market modernisation.

'A good regulatory framework, by itself, does not transform a sector. It is its effective implementation, the monitoring of results, and the commitment of all stakeholders that produce concrete change,' he said.

In response to the growth of e-commerce and delivery services, INCM is advocating for strengthened enforcement, the formalisation of service providers, and greater cooperation between operators and public institutions, with the aim of improving service quality and ensuring compliance with applicable standards.