Those that have flown in for only a day or
two, and tried to make the best of the limited time they had to visit every
stand at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), will tell you what a
physically grueling and mentally exhausting exercise it can be.
But this year, Vaya has changed all that.
The ride hailing service from Cassava On
Demand has just launched Vaya Hopper, a 3-wheeler ride service that it is
offering visitors to the ZITF free rides withing the Trade Fair grounds during
the course of the Fair.
“We are excited to launch the service
here, at the ZITF, and we are most gratified that we can make a difference by
providing visitors a convenient service from one point to another within these
vast grounds,” said Mr Givemore Jojo, Chief Commercial Officer for Cassava
Smartech and Cassava On Demand Services, as he got off a Vaya Hopper just
outside ZITF Hall 4, by the Cassava Stand at the yesterday.
The service, which falls under the Vaya
Mobility brand of passenger transport services, was launched at this year’s
ZITF, immediately proving popular with visitors.
Mr Jojo said the free ‘hopper rides’ would
not draw any cost at all from passengers.
“As long as they are in the ZITF grounds
and once they show the Vaya Hopper drivers a Vaya App download on their phones,
they are in for a free ride – literally,” said Mr Jojo, with a knowing smile.
He explained that a Vaya Hopper sits
between 3-6 passengers comfortably.
“It’s extremely convenient and time-efficient
for those short hops within the ZITF grounds and later, within the City
Centre,” he said, adding that Vaya had already ordered hundreds of electric
powered hoppers.
“In a first for Zimbabwe, we have already
placed an order of hundreds of hoppers, which we believe will transform
mobility services in all our cities, towns and growth points,” Mr Jojo said.
“They will be operated by individuals or
small businesses with convenient loan-financing assistance obtained from
Steward Bank,” the Cassava executive said.
The Vaya brand has dominated this year’s
Trade Fair, with multiple service launches and attractive promotional offers.