Introduction

For a long time, youths have been caught in the phenomenon of pursuing university education with the sole goal of securing employment in lucrative industries. This has flooded the job market with graduates struggling to find opportunities due to the oversaturation of degree holders. Many young graduates own cars but have yet to discover the “gold” in those vehicles.

The Arrival of Bolt and In-Drive

As technology continues to impact different sectors, Zimbabwe’s transport industry saw the introduction of reasonably priced taxi services, similar to Uber in other countries. Bolt and In-Drive entered the market. Connected through mobile applications, these services make mobility easier, allowing users to book a car from their location to any destination at the tap of a finger.

Embraced by University Students and Job-Searching Graduates

In December, a man traveled to Bulawayo for a program and was forced to use In-Drive to commute to and from the venue. That’s when he met a young engineering student from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), who is called James. James is still studying, pursuing one of the most perceived challenging programs, but he also drives people for income to support himself. “I just feel it’s a great thing to study while at the same time earning a few bucks for yourself,” James said, smiling. Back in Harare, the man’s encounter with James reminded him of a young woman named Ratie he met while using In-Drive. Ratie has completed her studies and is now job hunting, but she is already earning daily, thanks to her parents, who provided her with a fuel-efficient car.

Even Those in Formal Employment Are Joining In!

Did you ever think Africa would provide a platform to have two or more jobs? In-Drive and Bolt have made it a reality in Zimbabwe. Today, even those with full-time jobs drive for In-Drive during free hours, such as lunch breaks or after work. If you own a car and have spare hours on weekends but complain about money, you may be missing out on “gold” without realizing it.

Conclusion

When all is said and done, hope remains for the young generation there are opportunities to earn dollars. It’s not only about owning a car; possessing a driver’s license also opens doors, as many are employed as drivers in the same industry. This was an inspiring story of someone who started with one car and expanded to a fleet of five through this business gold, indeed.