Category: Transportation
Unable to compete with Uber & other apps, SA Taxi Associations resort to violence
In yesterday’s article, I talked about how a lot of traditional businesses are struggling against new data and tech-driven startups. In the western world, such businesses have resort to lobbying and asking for protective laws that do not always make sense to be passed by politicians in their pockets. Some businesses, however, like the South […]
Zim govt distances itself from $2000 Mushikashika fine
A few weeks ago the Zimbabwe Republic Police (soon to be Zimbabwe Police Service) sparked outrage when they announced that passengers are seen boarding non-ZUPCO buses would be fined $2000 ZWL. I called the fine cruel and heartless and wondered what law was being used to implement said fine as it would probably not pass […]
New ZUPCO buses were caught smuggling goods from South Africa
Recently the government unveiled 50 ZUPCO buses in a bid to solve the transport crisis they created when they banned kombis. It turns out the buses may have been involved in a smuggling incident according to a report in Newsday. The smuggling attempt was thwarted by ZIMRA officials who searched the buses and fined the […]
The $2000 mushikashika fine is cruel and heartless
Last year the Zimbabwean government for no particular reason I can think of decided to create a transport crisis in Zimbabwe. Claiming they wanted to protect the public from COVID-19 they banned kombis and at first, we understood. We were at the height of the first wave and thought the ban was temporary. Later they […]
South Africa’s SARS now piloting a Number Plate Recognition System at Beitbridge
A few weeks ago we learnt that ZINARA had now installed Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras along the Plumtree-Mutare Highway to speed things up. It seems they are not the only ones with such a system in the works for just the same reasons. South Africa’s Revenue Services (SARS) is in the process of […]
What EcoCash is to financial services, is what ZUPCO is to the transport sector
The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company’s (ZUPCO) has reemerged from its long slumber. The last time ZUPCO had a presence anywhere near to what it has today was back in the late 90s early 2000s. And even though it is still working at a fraction of its capacity, the company still moves tens of thousands of […]
You can now book a ZUPCO intercity bus through VAYA
The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) and Cassava Smartech’s VAYA have announced a partnership that would see customers being able to book intercity buses through the Vaya app and web portal, which is aptly named “VAYA neZUPCO” “In this partnership, our customers and the public can now undertake long-distance travel by simply booking a ride […]
Zimbabwean drone expert publishes book on drone technology
Tawanda Chihambakwe is no stranger to avid readers here, he is probably Zimbabwe’s foremost Drone Technology expert and he has done it again, this time in the form of a book called DRONE PROFESSIONAL 1. Tawanda co-authored the book which was written by leading drone professionals from around the world, including his own chapter that […]
Local drone tech hub launches – Here’s what you need to know about Zim Flying Labs
Avid readers or drone enthusiasts will most likely remember WeRobotics. We wrote about their Unusual Solutions competition since Zimbabwean drone expert Tawanda Chihambakwe was part of the finalists of the competition earlier this year. WeRobotic’s subsequently decided to partner with Precision Aerial – the local company started and led by Chihambakwe- to create ZimbabweFlying Labs […]
ZESA to acquire electric cars next year as they look to reduce abuse of vehicles and fuel
ZESA Chairman, Dr Sidney Gata recently announced that in 2021 ZESA will begin transitioning to electric cars to reduce abuse associated with fuel-powered vehicles and avoid cars being used for anything other than the intended purpose. No one will say his car has no fuel, the cars are rechargeable, they will recharge overnight whilst in […]
Bulawayo startup launches intercity ride-sharing app
Avid Techzim readers will know about Tuverl already. Last year, the Bulawayo-based startup participated in and won the World Bank’s Youth Summit which focused on smart city solutions. Tuverl is a ride-sharing transport company whose main goal is to make public transport in Zim more efficient than it currently is. When Tuverl pitched at the […]
TelOne to launch vehicle tracking service
TelOne recently sent out invites for a media event they are hosting on Friday (aka tomorrow) and it alludes to TelOne’s entry into the Telematics space. To the uninitiated, Telematics is defined as “the joining of two sciences—telecommunications, a branch of technology including phone lines and cables, and informatics such as computer systems. The term […]
Govt finally using drones to monitor border posts
Back in July, government officials announced that the Ministry of Finance had availed funds for the purchase of drones to patrol border the posts. The Ministry of Defence got ZW$100 million for the purchase of drones and the drones have finally been acquired. The drones will be patrolling the borders to help officials to clamp […]
Zim government to deploy drones at border posts
The Minister of Defence and War Veteran affairs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri recently announced that funding has been availed to her ministry for the acquisition of drones which will patrol border posts. The issue came up in Cabinet as Ministers were discussing the effect that our porous borders are having in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and […]
Vaya Announces Addition Of Electric Cars To Ride-Hailing Fleet, Again…
Back in November, Vaya announced the launch of their electric car ride-hailing network with their first fleet of electric Nissan EVs. At the time the company shared that their target was to have 100 vehicles on the road at some point. It seems more of those electric-vehicles have finally arrived, with Vaya press material announcing […]
Press Release: Vaya Offers Free Delivery Of Medicines For 3 Months
VAYA Express, through VAYA Express Medical Deliveries, is now offering free delivery of medical supplies to assist Zimbabweans in need of critical medicines and drugs during the restrictions imposed due the COVID -19 pandemic and beyond. VAYA Express Medical Deliveries is collaborating with Maisha Health fund (formerly Steward Health) to help people in need to […]
VAYA Launches Relief Support Arm Offering Logistics Support To COVID-19 Donors
VAYA has started offering relief support to organizations involved in distributing material aid to vulnerable groups and communities affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic. The global pandemic has seen governments in nearly all countries of the world, including Zimbabwe, enforce ‘lockdowns’ intended to arrest the spread of the highly infectious disease. The lockdowns have resulted […]
Renew Your Insurance, Vehicle, & Radio Licence Using This WhatsApp Bot
Given that the entire nation is currently under lockdown, those of you with expiring insurance, vehicle and radio licences might be in search of digital renewal options to ensure that when the lockdown ends the first thing you do is collect your disc. IceCash is offering one such WhatsApp bot (08677 004010) and an online […]
Local Company Wants To Use Drones To Help Fight COVID-19 Spread
The global response to the Corona epidemic has created a demand for new and innovative ways to fight the spread of the virus. Around the world tools like drones are being used for various purposes including as loudspeakers to warn people about social distancing and to stay at home like what the police are now […]
Vaya Declared An Essential Service During Lockdown
It’s been a week since the beginning of a national lockdown declared by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. H e declared the lockdown for a duration of 21 days and this can be revised. Under the lockdown, people are mandated to stay home except when going to procure food and other supplies as well as accessing medical […]
Uber Kenya Bans Night Pickups After President Announces National Curfew
Leaders across the world are being forced to take drastic measures in the face of the Novel Coronavirus, and for Kenya, these measures include a nationwide curfew. From 7 PM until 5 AM, Kenyans are not allowed to be outside until further notice. This has forced Uber Kenya which operates in two cities to suspend […]
[Video] Fresh In A Box Founder – We Believe We Are Going To Be The Amazon Of Zimbabwe
Kuda Musasiwa, the Founder of Fresh In A Box recently talked about how the startup disrupted the market by delivering fresh produce direct to customers. Musasiwa gave his 11-minute talk at a Baker Tilly Central Africa College of Knowledge event; Quick NetOne, Econet, And Telecel Airtime Recharge Number to recharge: Airtime amount ($): EcoCash or […]
Chicken Hut Launches WhatsApp-Based Diaspora Food Service
Chicken Hut recently launched a new service allowing people in the diaspora to order food for their friends and relatives back home via WhatsApp. Customers outside the country can order their food using 6 payment services including Visa and Mastercard by simply following steps outlined on the Chicken Hut website: Initiate your order by sending […]
SA Competition Commission Proposes Rules To Regulate Uber
South Africa’s Competition Commission has suggested that certain rules be removed from the country’s National Land Transport Act to allow healthier competition in the taxi industry. These changes are intended to facilitate better competition between metred taxis and ride-hailing services such as Uber and Taxify. So what changes does the competition watchdog believe will improve […]
Vaya Tracking System Let Us Down – Murder Victim’s Family
The son of Claudius Nyanga, a Vaya Taxi driver who was recently murdered in Avonlea, has come out and said they felt let down by Econet’s tracking systems which were not working when they were looking for his father. I’m really hurt nemafiro ababa [by the way father died], ndiri kubatikana ne Econet. We paid […]
Podcast On Drones: Education And The Future Of Careers
On this episode of the Techzim podcast, we discuss drone education and careers in Zimbabwe with Tawanda Chihambakwe. Quick NetOne, Econet, And Telecel Airtime Recharge Number to recharge: Airtime amount ($): EcoCash or OneMoney number: Buy Please dial our USSD code *405# on your phone to buy airtime because this page will not work. {{error_message}} […]
FBC Insurance Launches Instant 3rd Party Insurance Product, Yako
FBC Insurance Company has announced the launch of “yako” which they are positioning as “an innovative, game-changing and fully digital third party insurance service which will change the face of insurance in Zimbabwe.” Yako which is now available on the market, allows vehicle owners to purchase an instant third party insurance service for private cars, […]
Higherlife Foundation Extends Free Vaya Transport To Doctors And Nurses
Higherlife Foundation has extended by an additional six months the free transport programme for nurses and doctors employed at public healthcare institutions in Zimbabwe. The extended offer comes a day after the Foundation extended an offer to pay doctors in the public healthcare sector through a special medical fellowship established by Higherlife late last year, […]
How Does A Kombi Business Use Social Media To Make More Money? We Ask Pamushana Africa…
Pamushana Africa Transport is an intriguing company. It’s not very often that we see kombi operators take to social media but that’s what the company did and they took the world of online interaction like a duck to water. With 16 850 followers, the transport company has more followers than certain local banks, football teams […]
Uber To Leave Colombia Following Regulatory Ruling
From February 1, Uber will no longer operate in Colombia after losing a case brought against it by taxi drivers who were alleging the company has unfair business practices. This will come as a big blow to the tech company which had around two million active users and 88 000 drivers in the country. Uber […]