LUSAKA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Online taxi services have become the most preferred means of transportation for residents in the Zambian capital of Lusaka and some towns.
One of the reasons is that online taxi services are more affordable than other public transportation options. As a result, more and more local people are now using online taxi services to go from one place to another.
Besides, the advent of online taxi services has also brought economic benefits to a growing number of women, most of whom rely on this business to survive.
"I am a full-time taxi driver. It is my main source of income right now," said 36-year-old Rebecca Zulu, a single mother based in Lusaka.
Zulu recounted how she lost her job in June 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, when her employer decided to lay off some workers after business stalled.
She explained that she became a taxi driver after learning about online taxi services and was among the few women taking the initiative at the time.
Like many Zambian women involved in the online taxi services business, Zulu used her own car as a taxi. "I have been working as a taxi driver for a little over a year now. Business is good. I earn enough money to support my two young children," she said.
Sandra Kazambe, 28, also a female taxi driver based in Lusaka, said online taxi services have opened economic opportunities for many women who are licensed drivers like her.
Kazembe observed that more Zambian women are now getting into male-dominated fields and that society is slowly accepting the fact that women can also be taxi drivers.
Kazrmbe, a human resource personnel with a company, further revealed that she ventured into online taxi business to supplement her family's income.
"I only work as a taxi driver from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. during work days because I have a full-time job. I do more hours on weekends and holidays. I have been a taxi driver for about a month now," she said.
Today, there are a number of online taxi services companies in the country. Among these are Ulendo, Yango and Zamcab. ■