This year the Tanzania stamps are all about PAPU – the Pan African Postal Union. Their stamp program has been seeing fewer and fewer releases over the past decade, with 2022 and 2023 the smallest with one issue each year except for the stampless  2021 program. Tanzania Post instead issued a series of postcards highlighting the people of Tanzania.  This series proved to be quite popular, with many of the postcards selling out. 

The PAPU Tower issue is a joint release, with 7 countries participating in the common theme. More countries may be releasing stamps to celebrate the Tower’s inauguration and if so, I’ll make a note of them here.  Tanzania doesn’t mention who the photographers or designers are for this set, which as readers already know is a major annoyance to me.  If you have any details I’m missing, drop me a note in the comments.  

September

Commissioning of PAPU TOWER
Joint issue with Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe

4 stamps on sheetlet, 2 stamps on souvenir sheets, FDC, cancel

The 4 stamp sheetlet sold out rapidly

Pan African Postal Union (PAPU) recently moved into their new headquarters in Tanzania. PAPU was founded in 1980, in Arusha, Tanzania (where the new HQ is located as well) to improve and coordinate ongoing developments in mail service throughout Africa.  

Vision
To be one Postal network in Africa, as part of the global Postal network that guarantees modern quality products and services for customer satisfaction. PAN AFRICAN POSTAL UNION » Mission and Vision (upap-papu.africa)

PAPU now includes 45 countries.

Plans for a permanent home for PAPU began in 2000. Construction on the Tower began January 2020 and completed July 2023. Opening ceremonies were  held between August 31 and September 2, 2023. It is part of the “The Africa We Want” initiative to create “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own Citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.”PAN AFRICAN POSTAL UNION » Concept Note (upap-papu.africa)

Symbolic significance of Papu’s $21 million building to African postal services | The Citizen (create a free account to read the article)

Designer: Tanzania Post

Release date: September 2, 2023