A new digital platform has been launched in Bulawayo with the goal of bringing structure, safety and trust to the country’s largely fragmented informal service sector.
Dubbed One Tap, the super-app consolidates more than 40 service categories – ranging from ride-hailing and parcel delivery to plumbing, electrical work, hairdressing and beauty services – into a single, secure digital marketplace.
The platform, which is currently 100% commission-free, is designed to empower communities by removing financial barriers that often exclude informal operators from accessing digital economies.
Both customers and service providers can register at no cost, and providers are not required to pre-fund digital wallets or maintain minimum balances before receiving jobs.
Rebecca Makaya, marketing officer for One Tap, told Southern Eye Business desk that the platform is Zimbabwe’s first true multimedia super-app, developed to address the systemic challenges consumers and service providers face in the country’s informal economy.
She noted that consumers currently have to navigate disconnected service channels, which can expose them to unverified transport operators, unreliable delivery services, informal artisans and unsafe transactions involving vehicles and property.
“One Tap resolves these systemic pain points by consolidating these vital everyday needs into a single, secure digital platform,” she said.
“The platform operates through two interconnected applications – the One Tap All Services App for customers and the One Tap Partner App for service providers.”
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Customers can use the app to search for, book and manage services, while artisans, professionals, freelancers and micro-entrepreneurs can list their offerings, receive bookings and build their businesses digitally.
Transport services range from private and shared rides to intercity travel, airport transfers and motorcycle transport.
Parcel delivery using motorcycles, pick-up trucks and heavy-haulage trucks is also available, with real-time tracking and proof of delivery.
Beyond mobility, One Tap features more than 40 handyman categories, including plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, appliance repairs, generator maintenance and smart-home installations.
The platform also lists property rentals covering houses, flats and commercial premises, as well as automotive sales and rentals.
Beauty and wellness services such as hair styling, make-up and massage are also accessible through the app.
“Service providers retain 100% of their direct earnings, with no commission cuts taken by the app,” Makaya said.
There are no platform or registration fees, making the app accessible to micro-entrepreneurs with limited financial resources.
Despite being free to use, One Tap places a strong emphasis on verification and safety.
Service providers undergo an onboarding process that includes verification of national identity documents, trade qualifications and relevant licences for artisans and technical professionals.
Transparent profiles and peer-rating systems further promote accountability and help users make informed choices.
Makaya said One Tap’s broader objective is to contribute to Zimbabwe’s digital transformation by connecting skilled service providers with customers across the country.
The platform is expected to create opportunities for artisans and small businesses to formalise their operations, expand their customer bases and participate in the growing digital economy.
Zimbabwe’s informal sector accounts for an estimated 60 to 70% of total economic activity, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat), yet many operators remain outside formal financial and digital systems.
