When ride-hailing service, Rida, launched in Harare, Zimbabwe in 2023, it not solely introduced comfort to commuters, but in addition attracted professionals who’re leaving their jobs to complement their meagre salaries as gig employees. 

Although Zimbabwe’s literacy charges are comparably larger than the remainder of the continent, in line with a 2014 Labour Pressure and Youngster Labour Survey, solely 4.9% of the working inhabitants are professionals. Many Zimbabweans on this demographic, nevertheless, are more and more unable to satisfy their value of residing wants as inflation and foreign money modifications proceed to worsen the nation’s financial system. In 2014, common personal sector wage was US$340, under the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) for a household of 5. To outlive, the bulk moonlight, embark on facet hustles, or hunt down a supply of livelihood in different sectors, like ride-hailing.

One such skilled, Talkmore*, 34, who requested for anonymity for skilled causes, graduated in 2015 with a level in accounting from the College of Zimbabwe (UZ), and has labored at a neighborhood accounting agency, incomes US$400 month-to-month after almost a decade.  

“For me, it was now not viable to proceed working as an accountant at a neighborhood agency, and getting paid round US$400 a month, after I might drive a taxi, and make virtually double that quantity, on the similar time, making sufficient for my household,” Talkmore advised TechCabal.

On common, in 2025, a single particular person’s month-to-month bills can vary between $500 and $800, excluding lease. Together with lease, particularly in city areas like Harare, the full can rise to $1,200 or extra, relying on way of life and housing selections.

Making ends meet

Talkmore says when he graduated, he had excessive hopes for a profitable profession. However over time, the company world grew extra demanding but much less rewarding, his wage barely sufficient to cowl fundamentals, like leases and transportation. 

He took curiosity within the ride-hailing sector after a buddy talked about it to him and commenced saving to buy a automotive. The purpose was to affix a service and complement his earnings. In 2024, he withdrew his lifetime financial savings—amounting to US$3,000—and with a further US$2,000 mortgage from a buddy, bought a second-hand automotive. 

Then he joined Rida, first finishing a chat-based registration, submitting his automobile registration particulars, a replica of his driver’s licence, and proof of insurance coverage. After a rigorous vetting course of and background checks, he was onboarded onto the platform and commenced taking experience requests throughout his lunch breaks and after work hours. In a couple of days, he was making three to 4 rides a day, incomes an additional US$50-US$60 per day.   

“At first, I needed to sneak out of my office and typically acquired into hassle with my superiors,” Talkmore stated. “Since then, I’ve gained an everyday clientele, particularly these working at evening.”

Like Talkmore, Emassy Tawanda Ndorodzavashe, 30, an IT technician by coaching, stated he joined the ride-hailing sector to complement his earnings.

“What motivated most of us to affix inDrive is as a result of it’s versatile, I can work at my very own time and tempo, and I don’t have a set timetable. If I get 5 to 6 purchasers a day, on an excellent day, I can simply make $50-$60,” Ndorodzavashe stated. 

For 40-year-old Davidson* (not actual title for skilled causes), a former skilled sports activities teacher, fewer accessible alternatives to teach college youngsters drove him into becoming a member of the ride-hailing gig financial system. 

“The curiosity in sports activities and funding within the nation has gone down over time. Earlier than, I might make a residing teaching many younger youngsters, however lately I turned to ride-hailing, utilizing somebody’s automotive, and getting an earnings of round U$200-US$250 per 30 days,” Davidson stated. 

Rising demand

In Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, the vast majority of commuters use public transport. Nonetheless, since 2023 when worldwide ride-hailing startups equivalent to inDrive and Bolt entered the market, commuters are more and more choosing ride-hailing companies preferring their safety, pace, and comfort over accessible native alternate options. As well as, an ongoing blitz on unregistered commuter omnibus taxis has given these companies an added benefit. Early this yr, over 13,000 unregistered and unroadworthy pirate taxis and commuter omnibuses have been focused by the state. Out of the over 16,000 commuter omnibuses working in Harare, solely lower than 3,000 are registered. 

This crackdown has intensified competitors throughout the ride-hailing sector with accessible companies striving to supply higher incentives for drivers and riders. On Rida, for example, drivers can function with their very own automobiles after registration and verification processes, others rent automobiles, or drivers to function them, and share the earnings. For the time being, Rida costs round $20 for a distance of 25km.  

InDrive gained first-mover benefit when it launched in Harare in March 2023, and has gained aggressive edge for its decrease charges, pegged at about $13 for 25km, with an choice for purchasers to barter fares. It additionally affords intercity connectivity (with presence in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, and Mutare) and courier companies to purchasers. Different companies like Bolt, Taxify, and native options like Vaya, additionally supply each commuters and potential drivers choices from which to decide on.

Regardless of its financial system, Statista estimates that by 2025, Zimbabwe will generate round US$9.96 million within the ride-hailing market, and a projected market quantity of US$84.09 million by 2029. Virtually 2.80 million customers shall be utilizing the service by 2029, the analysis says, portending a sector which will maintain vital financial profit.  

For these professionals, nevertheless, becoming a member of the ride-hailing sector hasn’t come with out its challenges. When it’s busy, there may be hardly ever any time to relaxation, and one doesn’t have a everlasting place or workplace to function from, Ndorodzavashe defined. Some purchasers harass drivers and there’s a excessive threat of robberies and hijacking at evening, since they generally cope with money, Ndorodzavashe stated. Moreover, community issues can hamper communication with purchasers and transactions for cellular cash fee programs. 

Overcoming public sentiment about ride-hailing

Zimbabwe is experiencing a “jobless progress” phenomenon, in line with a 2016 report by the Worldwide Labor Organisation—GDP has grown at numerous factors, however this has not translated right into a proportional enhance in skilled or formal employment. Casual sector employment stood at 94.5% in 2014, an increase from 80% in 2004. Of an annual 30,000 graduates, solely 20% stand the possibility of gaining formal employment. Therefore as extra professionals be part of sectors like ride-hailing, the sentiment that jobs like these are for the much less educated is altering. 

“Personally, I consider my stint within the company world as an accountant and faculty coaching has outfitted me to be disciplined and I proceed to make use of these ethics in my work right this moment within the ride-hailing sector,” Talkmore stated, including that the expertise has been rewarding as a result of he can work at his personal tempo with out strain from his employer, who typically didn’t pay on time. “I might simply make $600 per 30 days, greater than my wage,” Talkmore stated. 

Pushed by an everyday, assured earnings, Ndorodzavashe is now targeted on driving, doing his IT jobs when he has no rides. 

“My unique career has now develop into my part-time job,” he stated. “Earlier than I grew to become full-time, I spent my time within the workplace, however after I began getting extra experience requests, I modified and did my IT jobs after I didn’t have any rides.”