The Government says it recognises that e-hailing services are giving people cheaper and easier rides while creating jobs for young people, and has approved a five-month moratorium on the regulation of platforms such as Bolt, InDrive, Tap & Go, GoFaster and KOSE.
The moratorium will give authorities time to engage stakeholders and develop a new framework to govern company and driver operations.
Speaking during the post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Zhemu Soda, said drivers and companies must start putting their own safety rules in place, and all businesses must register for tax with ZIMRA.
After the moratorium, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development will come up with permanent rules based on global best practice, to make e-hailing services safe, affordable and reliable.
“Regarding the Review of e-Hailing Transport services comprising platforms such as Bolt, In-Drive, Tap & Go, GoFaster, KOSE and others, Cabinet notes that they are providing convenient, affordable and more dignified services to the public as well as employment opportunities, especially for the youths,” said Soda.
“The sub-sector has faced regulatory challenges that are undermining the ease of doing business.
“Accordingly, and following consultations with players and regulatory authorities, Cabinet has approved Interim Transitional Measures, entailing observance of a five-month moratorium to enable a thorough review of the e-hailing transport services pending, among other measures, the development of a Self-Regulating Framework guiding drivers and ensuring passenger safety by the e-hailing providers, operators and drivers; and initiation of registering the e-hailing transport businesses with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) while already-registered operators apply for tax registration.”
The announcement comes after the City of Harare launched a crackdown on e-hailing drivers accused of operating illegally.
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