Mobility for Africa, a Zimbabwean mobility startup has received a funding of US$2 million from a Zimbabwean investment firm known as InfraCo Africa. The funding is to support the startup deploy about 400 electric vehicles to the country’s rural areas.
In order to promote sustainable growth, the project is also reportedly expected to produce 600 electric batteries and build eight charging stations, especially in regions of Zimbabwe that are not yet connected to the national electrical grid.
Founded in 2019, Mobility for Africa, provides cost- effective quality renewable electric tricycles, bicycles and small-scale vehicles for persons in rural areas to access healthcare and for the ease of goods transportation within such areas. They believe that their solutions would help facilitate movement and transportation amongst persons living in rural areas, which intends provides the opportunity to bring value to persons within such communities.
The solar-powered vehicles Known as ‘hambas’ (which means “go ahead” in the local Ndebele language) are made in the Zimbabwean capital Harare. Shantha Bloeman, the CEO of Mobility for Africa emphasized the importance of this partnership on the role of women in agricultural productivity
“This partnership will strengthen the role of rural women as significant contributors to economic agricultural productivity, as well as gender equality and climate resilience,” she said.