eBusiness Weekly
Leroy Dzenga
Kombi operators have over the years been infamous for being rowdy, resist to move with technology and uncouth. This was informed by the rigidity that has become synonymous with the privately-owned public transport system in Zimbabwe.
There are other operators, however, who are breaking from the inefficient tradition, employing innovative ways to service their clientele.
Pamushana Africa, one of the few professionally run transport operators is introducing a system poised to disrupt the manner in which kombis bill their clients.
They recently installed a “tap and go” technology in all of their buses.
This is technology which allows passengers to reload money into Pamushana Africa cards and use them whenever they board the buses instead of paying cash each trip.
With each tap, money is deducted from the card.
Hardlife Chipika, the company’s director said the technology will help them better the service they give their patrons.
“The technology will allow people to make prepayments into our system. This removes the burden of having to look for cash on a daily basis for them to enjoy our services,” said Chipika.
“One can load $20, $50 and $100 in their card depending on the frequency of their travel,” he said.
The technology also carries geotagging functions, which allows operators to monitor their fleet movements’ remotely.
It also has a digital interface that communicates important details on a trip, like distance and time left from reaching the intended destination.
This insulates commuters from other traffic misdemeanours like speeding and inconveniencing diversions.
“We also hope other players can come on board. The moment this technology is across the board we can bring more convenience to our clients,” said Chipika.
With the (recent) fluctuating prices in the transport system, the prepaid card is a worthy investment as it is fortified against fare changes.
Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Fortune Chasi, tested the technology in one of the company’s buses.
He commended the company for being a model of how a kombi business can run formally.
“It is encouraging that this company is run by young people who are always looking for new innovative ways to run their business,” Chasi said.
Of the 10 000 kombis in Zimbabwe, there are about 3 000 fully registered and tax compliant and Government believes such technology can reduce the rampant tax negligence in the industry.
“This kind of technology leaves a traceable payment trail, which makes it easy for taxes to be verifiable. It also allows on planning purposes and quantifying how big the industry is in monetary terms,” said Chasi.
Pamushana Africa were among the first transport operators to introduce a multiple payment system, which accommodates swipe, mobile money payment and cash.
They have now brought a first among kombi businesses, the “tap and go” card.
This technology regionally can be found in the South African train system — The Gautrain — where people make prepayments into cards and redeem them when they ride.
In old times, Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) had the same system in the 1990s where people would buy tickets before boarding the bus.
The same approach is returning, this time paperless and being effected by private players like Pamushana Africa.
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