Graduates turn to inDrive for survival

By Kelvin Kutinyo

As high unemployment continues to limit formal employment opportunities, tertiary graduates are increasingly turning to inDrive, embracing the platform as a flexible means of income generation.

Butholezwe Ngwenya, a graduate, noted that driving for inDrive keeps him active and allows him to explore new areas, making it a better alternative to staying idle at home.

“I’m on inDrive to earn extra cash, it’s a flexible way to utilise my free time. Plus, I love meeting new people and exploring the city while doing it. It’s a great way to stay productive and serve my community.”

“Challenges are there. High competition means I have to be on top of my game, low rates mean I have to work harder to make ends meet, and long work hours can be draining. Plus, our roads here in Zimbabwe aren’t always the best, so navigating through traffic and potholes can be a real pain,” said Mr Ngwenya.

Just four years ago, the taxi industry was dominated by licensed individuals, often school dropouts or those with limited education, but the landscape has since changed with new entrants.

Ronald Petros Sibanda, who drives a silver Toyota Aqua hybrid, shared the challenges he faces as an inDrive operator and the strategies he uses to navigate them.

“The most difficult time to work is during the day because a lot of drivers will be flooded in town and it means more competition.”

“I prefer working at night, most drivers will be gone to their homes and there will be a few of us. It’s an advantage because the ride fares also increase and you also have an option to bid the highest price,” said Mr Sibanda.

A recent survey showed graduates flocking to the taxi industry, drawn by tech-driven opportunities that enable them to pick up clients and transport them to desired destinations efficiently.

A female graduate and inDrive operator shared the motivation behind her decision to join the platform, highlighting her personal reasons for becoming a driver.

“The long and short of it is money. Personally, I realised no one is coming to save me. So, I got the opportunity to do Indrive and I was like, why not,” she said.

Besides graduates, full-time employees are also cashing in on the inDrive business, using it as a side hustle during evenings, weekends, and off days to supplement their income.

Nurses, police officers, and prison officers are among civil servants with flexible schedules who moonlight as inDrive operators during their spare time.

Naison Banda, a nurse, highlighted the benefits of driving for inDrive, noting that it helps cover certain expenses and allows for a budget, despite requiring adequate rest.

“Indrive helps cover other expenses like rent, electricity, water bills not to mention putting food on the table for family. Using the profit from indrive helps to save some of the monthly salary from work.”

“It looks fun and adventurous but one thing for sure it’s so tiresome and rest is very essential, we usually take power naps to avoid sleeping while driving and fatigue,” said Banda.

Another survey revealed that Indrive drivers cash in US$100 to US$150 weekly to owners, and sometimes often stay with their vehicles as they work around the clock.

Fuel efficient vehicles such as the Honda Fit, Mazda Demio, and Toyota Aqua are popular choices for inDrive operations due to their cost saving benefits.

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