RYAN CHIGOCHE
VAYA Mobility and the Zimbabwe United Passengers Company (Zupco) have launched a platform which allows for online booking, a move which is set to transform intercity public transportation.
The platform, VAYA NeZupco, will allow a would-be passenger to book online via the VAYA application.
Givemore Jojo VAYA Technologies CEO, said the Covid-19 pandemic had underlined the importance of bringing convenience and improved safety to the public transport industry, which plays a crucial role in connecting people, in business and commerce, and in transporting goods and services and driving sustainable development.
“In this partnership, our customers and the public can now undertake long-distance travel by simply booking a ride in a Zupco bus from their mobile phone, using the VAYA App, and they get to pay via EcoCash,” he said.
“This will save money and time, and protect our travellers from rowdy touts at the point of boarding. It also eliminates the risk of contracting Covid-19 associated with travel using unregistered private and public vehicles.”
Speaking during the launch yesterday, Zupco CEO Evaristo Madangwa said this is a great milestone in the improvement of the public sector transport.
Talon Garikai, Harare Institute of Technology Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Development), said the platform will bring technology closer to the people while calling on citizens to embrace such technologies and help the country achieve a digital economy by 2025.
“VAYA ne Zupco is in line with the government’s goal to achieve a digital economy by 2025 as it brings technology closer to the people therefore people should really embrace such technologies that really suits our country,” said Garikai who was the guest of honour.
“I hope that this innovation and partnership, which will initially support passengers travelling between Harare and Bulawayo, will quickly be rolled out throughout other cities and across the country, so that our people can benefit from this smart partnership.”
The tickets which are bought through the VAYA application come with EcoSure life insurance and cover in case of an accident.
The insurance will see one get ZW$5 000 per day for a maximum of 15 days if hospitalised. There is also a disability and life cover in the event of death.
