Tech

Tanzania’s auto-tech startup Spana is simplifying car maintenance— CEO

Published

8 months ago

April 24, 2024

Tanzania’s auto-tech startup, Spana, has developed a mobile application for a bouquet of automobile services, enabling individual car owners and businesses to request auto diagnostic checks, vehicle servicing, and repairs, or subscribe their vehicles to annual routine maintenance, according to co-founder and CEO, Julius Mbungo.

Mbungo who made the boast in an interview on Wednesday, said the startup which was founded in late 2023 by himself, Ebenezery Kimaro, and John Mwapinga, allows “users to access reliable mechanics, their car’s maintenance history, track expenses, and receive service reminders, among other things.”

In the interview, Mbungo said before coming up with the startup, he had, in 2022, conducted a survey of car owners, mechanics and garage owners to learn about how car owners access services for their cars and the challenges they face when it comes to dealing with mechanics.

“We talked to more than 800 people, and the results were astonishing. Eighty per cent weren’t very happy with existing solutions, and those who were at least satisfied complained about the rip-off from some of the service providers,” he stated.

“Tanzania, like most Sub-Saharan African countries, is a used-car dominated market, by a ratio of 90:10, where cars as old as 20-years still find their way onto the roads.

“The used cars are powered by after-market spare parts where most are fake, leading to frequent breakdowns and car owners spending four times more on maintenance. There’s also a lack of expertise and modern tools,” Mbungo said.

He emphasized that “Spana is on a mission to provide efficient, affordable, and transparent auto repair and maintenance, combating counterfeit spare parts.”

“We want to foster a vehicle maintenance culture in Tanzania, helping customers with repairs and spare part procurement along the way.

“We want to prolong the longevity of Tanzanians’ vehicles and keep our roads and people safe.

“Since our inception, we have 30 workshops registered on our platform, and 180 mechanics, with over 1,000 cars registered.”

He stressed that the platform currently operates in two Tanzanian cities – Dar es Salaam and Arusha – with plans to expand to Dodoma and Zanzibar later this year.

“But we are looking forward to adding more services on the platform, such as vehicle insurance and vehicle repair loan,” Mbungo added.

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Tech

Kenya’s ticketing startup BuuPass partners Flexpay for flexible travel payments

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenyan digital ticketing startup, BuuPass, has entered into a partnership with goal-based savings platform, Flexpay, to offer customers flexible payment plans ahead of holiday travels as well as simplify travel planning and ease the financial burden of holiday travel for Kenyans.

Co-founder and CEO at Buupass, Sonia Kabra, who unveiled the package at a press conference, said the collaboration between the two platforms will allow travellers to save for their journeys in manageable, interest-free installments over four to 12 weeks.

“Travelers can select their travel dates, book tickets, and pay a small deposit upfront, with the remaining balance spread across weekly or monthly payments,” she said.

“This approach offers a stress-free way for families and large groups to secure their tickets early, helping them avoid last-minute price hikes as fares are locked in.

“By partnering with Flexpay, we’re giving travelers the flexibility to budget for their trips in advance. This initiative aligns with our mission to make travel accessible to everyone, providing a solution that meets customers where they are financially,” said Kabra.

Also speaking at the event, Richard Machomba, CEO and founder of Flexpay, said:

“Flexpay’s mission is to empower individuals by providing accessible financial solutions that make it easier for them to achieve their financial goals.

“By partnering with BuuPass, we’re making travel more accessible and stress-free for Kenyans, especially during the holiday season when expenses can be overwhelming,” Machomba added.

Founded in 2016 by Kabra and Wyclife Omondi, BuuPass is a B2B2C mobility marketplace that enables users to search, compare, and book travel tickets via web, app, or USSD, while its SaaS platform helps bus operators manage their operations, inventory, and sales.

FlexPay, on the other hand, is an online and offline payment gateway that allows merchants to offer interest-free targeted savings to their customers in Africa.

Tech

DR Congo sues tech giant Apple over illegal mineral exploitation

Published

2 days ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has filed a criminal case against the European subsidiaries of tech giant, Apple, accusing them of illegal mineral exploitation and allegedly using “blood minerals” in its supply chain.

In the suit filed on Tuesday, the DRC alleges that Apple has bought contraband supplies from the country’s conflict-ladden east and Rwanda, zones in which it allege the materials are mined illegally and then integrated into global supply chains before ending up in tech devices.

The DRC suit specifically mentioned Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the tech giant of using conflict minerals in its supply chain.

The DRC is a major source of tin, tantalum, and tungsten which are used in electronic devices, with some mines controlled by armed groups responsible for human rights violations.

International lawyers representing the African country’s government have accused Apple’s local subsidiaries of taking these minerals from conflict areas and laundering them through international supply chains, with one lawyer telling journalists that Belgium had a moral duty to act given its history of exploiting the country’s resources under colonial rule.

However, in its response, Apple claims it conducts supplier audits and does not directly source primary minerals.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1262670-dr-congo-sues-apple-over-alleged-illegal-mineral-exploitation