Ngisho Neqhwa Nemvula Nobuningi Balo Akulivimbeli Iposi

“Uma nje besekhona abantu beposi, ukuphila kusazothakazelisa.”—William James, isazi sefilosofi sase-U.S. (1842-1910)

CISHE wonke umuntu unendaba ecasulayo yokuyilandisa ngokuphathelene nenkonzo yeposi. Incwadi ayiposa yafika sekwedlule amasonto noma ngisho nezinyanga ezithile kunalokho okwakulindelwe, izindleko zokuposa zikhuphuka ngokushesha kakhulu, noma ukuma emgqeni eposini kuyacasula. Emuva ngo-October 1966, kwakunenhlekelele eyayisongela isimiso sokusebenza kwamaposi. Umkhulumeli we-U.S. Postal Service watshela abalobeli be-Phaphama! ukuthi “isakhiwo seposi esasisikhulu kakhulu ngalesosikhathi e-U.S., empambanandlela eChicago, sacishe savalwa lapho sesiminyene kakhulu futhi singasakwazi ukusingatha izincwadi.”

Yini eye yenziwa ukuze kuqinisekwe ukuthi ukuhanjiswa kwezincwadi akumi nanokuthi incwadi yakho iyofika lapho ithunyelwa khona? Ingabe kukhona ongakwenza ukuze uthuthukise inkonzo oyitholayo? Ingabe izindlela zokuhambisa izincwadi kanye nokwethenjelwa kwazo kuye kwashintsha ngokuphawulekayo emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka?

Inkonzo Yamaposi Endulo

Izinkonzo zakudala kakhulu ezazihlelekile zazisetshenziswa uhulumeni kuphela. Lezozimiso zazikhona endulo eChina, eGibithe, e-Asiriya, ePheresiya, naseGrisi. Isimiso samaRoma samaposi sasibizwa ngokuthi i-cursus publicus, ngokwezwi nezwi okusho “indlela yomphakathi”; nokho, ngokuyinhloko sasiyinkonzo kahulumeni kuphela. Ngokuthakazelisayo, izincwadi ezazibhalwe umlobi weBhayibheli uPawulu ezaziya emabandleni e-Efesu naseKolose, nakuFilemoni zathunyelwa ngamalungiselelo ayezenzele wona kodwa hhayi ngenkonzo yamaposi kahulumeni waseRoma.—Efesu 6:21, 22; Kolose 4:7-9; Filemoni 21, 22.

Nakuba ukuthunyelwa kanye nokuhanjiswa kwezincwadi kwashintsha kancane kakhulu kwaze kwaba sekhulwini le-19, imibono ngokuphathelene nokulawula noma ukuqeda izindlela zokuthumela izincwadi ngamalungiselelo umuntu azenzele wona yaqala ukuvela kudala. Ngani? Ngenxa yokuthi iziphathimandla zaba nomuzwa wokuthi kudingeka kube khona igunya elingokomthetho phezu kwezokuxhumana eziphethwe abantu ngabanye. Encwadini yakhe ethi Universal Postal Union, uGeorge A. Codding, Jr., unikeza izizathu ezimbili ezinkulu zokwakhiwa kwegunya likahulumeni phezu kwezinkonzo zamaposi. Okokuqala, intela “yayiyindlela enhle yokuthuthukisa inkonzo engokomthetho.” Okwesibili, amalungiselelo okulondeka ayelungiselelwe kwakungawokusiza ekulawuleni ukuxhumana kwezitha zoMbuso.

Ngaleyondlela, i-Royal Post yaseFrance yaqala ukusingatha elinye iposi lomphakathi ngo-1464. Ngo-1635, uCharles I waseNgilandi wenza ukuba inkonzo ye-Royal Mail ivulekele umphakathi. Abanye ohulumeni benza okufanayo futhi ngaleyondlela balawula inkonzo yamaposi, belawula ukuxhumana phakathi kwabantu.

IBrithani yayiqondisa isimiso sakuqala saseMelika, njengoba nje noMbuso waseRoma wawelule isimiso sawo esiwuchungechunge samaposi safinyelela eBrithani. Isimiso saseRoma sasifana kakhulu nelungiselelo lasePheresiya, okwakuyisimiso samaposi lapho izithunywa zazigibela khona amahhashi zisebenza ngokushintshana esasiqaliswe ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E. Ngaleyondlela, izindlela zokusebenza kwezimiso eziningi zamaposi zivela ePheresiya.

Isimiso samaposi ngesikhathi samakoloni eMelika saqala ngokomthetho ukusingatha iposi laphesheya kwezilwandle ngo-1639, kanye neposi langaphakathi, phakathi kweBoston neDolobha laseNew York, ngo-1673. Lowomzila weposi owahlala isikhathi esifushane wabizwa ngokuthi i-Boston Post Road, manje eyingxenye ye-U.S. Highway 1. Maphakathi nekhulu le-19, iposi lalihanjiswa ngamakalishi, izitimela ezihamba ngamanzi, kanye nezitimela ezivamile. Ukuthunyelwa kweposi eSan Francisco, eCalifornia, lisuka eDolobheni laseNew York kwakuthatha cishe inyanga noma ngaphezulu ngomkhumbi futhi kuthatha isikhathi eside kakhulu ngekalishi.

Isimiso Seposi Elihanjiswa Ngamahhashi

Ukuze kusheshiswe ukuthunyelwa kweposi elinqamula amazwekazi e-United States, kwakudingeka okunye ngaphandle kwekalishi noma umkhumbi. Yini eyayizoxazulula lenkinga? Kwasetshenziswa indlela eyayisinamakhulu eminyaka ikhona yezithunywa ezigibela izimoto namahhashi. I-History of the U.S. Postal Service 1775-1984 icaphuna izimemezelo zamaphephandaba kusukela ngo-March 1860:

“Kufuneka: Izinsizwa ezisencane, ezizacile, ezinganwabuluki ezingakevi eminyakeni engu-18 ubudala. Kufanele zibe abakhweli bamahhashi abangompetha abazimisele ukufaka ukuphila kwabo engozini yokufa usuku ngalunye. Kutuswa ukuba kube izintandane.”

Labo abaqashwayo “kwakufanele bafunge bebeke isandla eBhayibhelini ukuthi ngeke ‘basebenzise inhlamba,’ balwe, noma baziphathe kabi izilwane zabo futhi bayoziphatha ngokwethembeka.” Lesi kwakuyisimiso seposi elihanjiswa ngamahhasi esithandwayo, esanciphisa isikhathi sokuhamba kweposi saba izinsuku eziyishumi emzileni ongamakhilomitha angu-3 200 phakathi kweSt. Joseph, eMissouri, kanye nogu olungasentshonalanga lwase-United States. Begijima ngesivinini esikhulu kakhulu samakhilomitha angu-15 kuya kwangu-25, bese beshintsha amahhashi ngaphandle kokulibala, labobagibeli bamahhashi abasebancane babegabavula phezu kwezintaba, amathafa, kanye nemifula kuzo zonke izinhlobo zesimo sezulu. Kuso sonke isikhathi sokusetshenziswa kwesimiso esisheshayo seposi, ngenxa yokuba namahhashi agijima kakhulu, izithunywa ezingamadela-ngozi zaziwashiya amaNdiya kanye nezigelekeqe; nakuba kunjalo, umgibeli oyedwa wabulawa.

Izinganekwane ziye zayiqokomisa lenkonzo yamaposi eyayidinga isibindi, eyasebenza kuphela kusukela ngo-April 3, 1860, kwaze kwaba ngo-October 26, 1861. Yayeka ukusebenza lapho kuqalisa inkonzo yokuthumela ngomshini wocingo eyayinqamula amazwekazi, ngaleyondlela iqeda enye yezingxenye ezinhle kakhulu zomlando wamaposi eMelika.

Izindlela Zesimanje

Ake sipose incwadi namuhla futhi sibone ukuthi isingathwa kanjani. Isikhathi sokufika kwayo singehluka kuye ngendlela oyisebenzisa ngayo lenkonzo.

Lapho uqeda umsebenzi wakho wosuku, izincwadi ezinqwabelene ziyaposwa. Njengoba lena kuyindlela esetshenziswa iningi lethu, inqwaba yezincwadi iposwa ngasekupheleni kosuku. Ngakho, ukuposa ngasekuqaleni kosuku kukunikeza inzuzo yamahora ambalwa futhi kwenze izincwadi zakho zibe phambili enqwabeni yangalolosuku. Ngo-1991, isilinganiso sansuku zonke sezincwadi ezazifika e-United States sasiyizincwadi eziyizigidi ezingu-454, izigidi ezingu-13,3 zingezaseDolobheni laseNew York; eFrance, izigidi ezingu-71, nezigidi ezingu-5,5 zaseParis; eJapane, izigidi ezingu-62,5 kanye nezigidi ezingu-17 zaseTokyo; futhi iBrithani, izigidi ezingu-60.

Izincwadi eziposwe ebhokisini leposi elisemgwaqweni noma ehhovisi elincane leposi zilethwa ehhovisi elikhulu leposi. Ukufaka izincwadi zakho ngaphambi nje kwezikhathi zokuliqoqa, uma kungenzeka, eduze namahhovisi amakhulu kuthuthukisa isikhathi sokufika kwalo.

Ehhovisi leposi lendawo, incwadi yakho ifakwa esakeni, bese ithunyelwa ngeloli endaweni yeposi ebizwa ngokuthi i-sectional center, lapho kusetshenziswa khona umshini okwazi ukuzihlungela izincwadi. Lapha, ngemishini eklanywe ngobunyoninco, izincwadi ziyaphendulwa njengoba zidlula ngebhande ziya endaweni ezikhethwa kuyo, zisondezwe onqenqemeni lomshini, zishaywe isigxivizo phezu kwesitembu, zihlungwe, bese zibekwa ngokuhleleka. Omunye umshini onjalo, obizwa ngokuthi i-facer-canceler, usingathatha ngesivinini izincwadi ezingu-27 000 ngehora uzishaya isigxivizo phezu kwezitembu bese izifaka uphawu lwaseposini.

Ngesikhathi santambama kuze kube sebusuku, kuhlungwa iposi eliya kwezinye izindawo. Izincwadi ezinamakheli afundeka kalula—abhalwe ngomshini, abhalwe ngokungahlanganisi, noma abhalwe ngesandla—zingahlungwa ngomshini. Imishini emisha icacisa imigqa emibili enenombolo yendawo noma inombolo yeposi; idolobha, izwe, noma isifundazwe; kanye nekheli lomgwaqo.

Imishini enjalo kanye neminye efana nayo ingakwazi “ukuzifundela” amakheli bese ibhala izinombolo ezikhethekile zokuposa ezincwadini eziyizinkulungwane eziningi ngehora. Izincwadi ezinjengamakhadi ezivalisisiwe ezingenakukwazi ukufakwa emishinini kufanele zihlungwe ngezandla, ngesilinganiso sezincwadi ezingu-800 ngehora. Ikheli elifundeka kalula, elinenombolo yendawo e-United States (inombolo yeposi kwamanye amazwe amaningi) lenza ukuba incwadi yakho inakekelwe ngezindlela ezishesha ngokwengeziwe, nezithuthuke ngokwengeziwe.

Iposi eliya kwezinye izindawo lithunyelwa ngendiza noma okunye okungahambi emoyeni. Izincwadi ezinjengamakhadi ngokuvamile zithuthwa ngobusuku obubodwa ziyiswa emadolobheni aqondile nakuma-sectional center, ngezinsuku ezimbili ziyiswa emazweni angaphakathi, futhi kube izinsuku ezintathu ziyiswa kunoma iyiphi enye indawo e-United States. EBrithani, izincwadi ezinjengamakhadi ezingamaphesenti angu-90 kufanele zihanjiswe ngosuku olulandelayo lokusebenza futhi amaphesenti angu-97,4 ezincwadi ezinjengomagazini ahanjiswa ngosuku lwesithathu. Ukuhlolwa kwamaposi aseFrance okwashicilelwa ngo-May 1992 kubonisa ukuthi amaphesenti angu-81 ezincwadi zangaphakathi ayehanjiswa ngobusuku obubodwa nokuthi amaphesenti angu-96,3 ezinto ezaziposwa ayahanjiswa phakathi nezinsuku ezimbili, ngaphandle kwangeSonto nangamaholide. Ngaleyondlela, ebusuku lezincwadi eziya kwezinye izindawo ziba iposi elingenayo ezindaweni ezisingatha iposi zendawo bese kuba sehhovisi leposi ezifikela kulo. Ubusuku bonke kuze kube sentathakusa, izincwadi ezifikayo ziyahlungwa ukuze zihanjiswe.

Amakhasimende amakhulu eposi, anjenge-Watchtower Society, ayazilungisela izincwadi zawo ukuze ihhovisi leposi lizamukele ziwumthwalo oqhutshwa ngenqola endaweni yokuthumela. Leliposi lithunyelwa ngokuqondile ngehhovisi leposi linqamule izwe liye ezisebenzini zokuthutha iposi. Izinkonzo zamaposi zizisebenzisa kakhulu izindlela zobuchwepheshe zokuxhumana, ezinjenge-electronic mail (E-mail; ukwaziswa okuthunyelwa nge-computer ngezintambo zocingo). Ngonyaka odlule isimiso saseFrance sathumela ukwaziswa okuyizigidi eziyishumi okubhalisa ukude nge-electronic mail.

Nakuba izinqubo zamaposi zehluka ngokwamazwe, iposi eliningi lomhlaba lisingathwa ngendlela efanayo naleyo esiye sayichaza ye-U.S. Postal Service, esingatha amaphesenti angu-40 esilinganiso seposi lomhlaba.

Ezinye Izinkonzo Zamaposi

Izimiso zamaposi zilungiselela izinkonzo eziningi kunokunakekela nje iposi. Ihhovisi leposi lase-U.S. lingakusiza ukuba uthole i-passport. Ungakwazi ukugcina imali yakho ehhovisi leposi laseJapane noma e-Girobank yaseBrithani (ngaphambili eyayiphethwe yiposi laseBrithani). Futhi, izinto ezithunyelwa ngeposi zingafakwa kumshuwalense noma zithunyelwe ngesiqinisekiso sokuthi zizonakekelwa ngokukhethekile (registered) ukuze kuhlangatshezwane nezindleko uma kwenzeka zilahleka noma zonakala. Uma into ethunyelwa ngeposi idinga kuphela ubufakazi bokuthi ithunyelwe noma ihanjisiwe, ukuyithumela ngesiqinisekiso sokuthi izonakekelwa kodwa zingahlanganiswa izindleko zokulahleka noma zokonakala, kungabiza kangcono kunokuyithumela ngesiqinisekiso sokulondeka kodwa kuhlanganiswe nezindleko zokulahleka noma zokonakala. Abantu bangathola umshuwalense wokuphila kwabo eposini laseJapane.

Uma ucela, amanye amaposi, njengalelo laseUnited States, angakunikeza ukwaziswa kokulungisa ikheli. Bhala ukuthi “Address Correction Requested” noma ukuthi “Do Not Forward” ngaphambili emvilophini ngezansi nje kwekheli lokuyibuyisela. Ngaphandle kokwenezela ezinye izindleko, izincwadi ezifana namakhadi ziyobuyiselwa kuwe zinekheli elisha (uma zingakawuqedi unyaka) noma kunesinye isizathu esibangele ukuba zingathunyelwa.

Ngenxa yalezi kanye nezinye izinkonzo, umhlaba uncike kakhulu esimisweni samaposi. Umbiko i-Evaluation of the United States Postal Service uthi: “INkonzo Yamaposi yenza umsebenzi omuhle ekusingatheni izincwadi eziningi, kodwa amaphutha angenakulungiswa kufanele aqhubeke evunywa ukuze umphakathi wazi ukuthi siyini isimo esingokoqobo okufanele usilindele ngokufika kwezincwadi.” E-United States, uma nje amaphesenti amahlanu ezincwadi ezinjengamakhadi ezingu-250 000 000 ebambezeleka, kufinyelela ezincwadini ezingu-12 000 000 usuku ngalunye. Lokhu kuphumela ekutheni kube nezikhalazo eziningi zezinto eziphuzile ukufika.

Izimo eziphazamisekile zezomnotho ziye zathinta izimiso zamaposi. Izindleko eziphakamayo, izinto ezonakalayo, iposi eliphuzayo ukufika, kanye nobuchwepheshe besimanje kwabangela ukuncintisana okukhulu namaposi alawulwa uhulumeni. Nakuba izindlela ezintsha zokusingathwa kweposi zakuthuthukisa ukusingathwa kwalo, ukucindezeleka kwazo zonke izinhlangano kwenza kube nezikhathi ezibucayi ngazo zonke izimiso zamaposi. I-U.S. Postal Service yaba nesikweletu sezintela esilinganiselwa emaRandini angu-4 425 000 000 ngo-1991. Izinyathelo ezinqala, ezinjengokwenyuswa kwezindleko zokuposa kanye nokuncishiswa kwezisebenzi, zingase zidingeke ukuze kuqhutshekwe nezinkonzo ezikhona manje.

Kusukela ekumfimfeni ezikhathini zasendulo kuye ekugelezeni kwanamuhla, ukugeleza kweposi kuyaqhubeka naphezu kwezinkinga, ngaleyondlela kwanelise isidingo esazalwa naso sokuxhumana.—Inikelwe isisebenzi saseposini.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 18]

Ukuhanjiswa Kweposi Ngendlela YasePheresiya

Isizinda siwumbuso wasendulo wasePheresiya. Izincwadi ezibhaliwe zazilungiswa ngokucophelela, zivalwe ngokomthetho, futhi zithunyelwe ngamaposi alawulwa uhulumeni. Abantu abaningi babeyokufa ukuba iziyalezo azizange zihanjiswe ngokushesha futhi zilandelwe ngokushesha. Kodwa iposi lalihanjiswa kanjani? “Izincwadi zazithunyelwa ngezithunywa ezigibela amahhashi athathwe ezitebeleni zasebukhosini. . . . Ngakho lezithunywa, zigibele emahhashini azo asebukhosini, zazisheshiswa ziqhutshwa yizwi lenkosi,” kusho i-New English Bible, ku-Esteri 8:10, 14.

Labobagibeli bamahhashi abathembekile ababewashintshashintsha, kanye namahhashi ayemiswa ngokushiyana ngebanga elingamakhilomitha angu-23, baba yindlela eyakhethwa yokudlulisela isimemezelo seNkosi u-Ahashiveroshi esasizosindisa amaJuda ekuqothulweni kwesizwe sawo phakathi nekhulu lesihlanu B.C.E. Isazimlando uHerodotus sathi labaphathi bezincwadi “begijima ngejubane labo elingcono kakhulu babengaphazanyiswa ekufinyeleleni ibanga okwakufanele balihambe, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi iqhwa, noma imvula, noma ukushisa, noma ubumnyama bobusuku.” Lesi kwakuyisimiso sikahulumeni sokuxhumana nsuku zonke esasisetshenziswa kuwo wonke uMbuso wasePheresiya.

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

Imishini iyazifundela futhi izihlungele izincwadi eziyizinkulungwane eziningi ngehora

[Umthombo]

USPS Photo