A new approach to safe and empowering transport

Londa Rides, founded by entrepreneur Rachel Lazarus, is a fast-growing transport initiative created to address mobility challenges faced by people in Namibia, while also providing an income for the drivers.

“Londa” is a Bantu word meaning “hop on”.

According to Lazarus, Londa Rides is very close to her heart because she understands the challenges faced by students, having recently graduated herself. “I just finished recently, and I used to struggle a lot getting a cab to and from school,” she said.

As a science and technology student, she was trained to identify community problems and find tech-based solutions, including those affecting students. Londa Rides was the brainchild of Lazarus and her classmates as part of a design-class project. They aimed to solve their peers’ struggles with finding transportation by creating a carpool system for students who own cars. The idea has since blossomed into a reliable platform where students and learners can find safe transportation to school and back.

Londa Rides plans to enhance its platform with a mobile application targeting university students, who often do not have fixed schedules like younger learners. The initiative focuses on providing safe, dependable and customer-friendly transport services, while ensuring that drivers are treated fairly.

At Londa Rides, safety is a top priority and forms one of the main pillars of the brand. “We carry out psychometric tests. We also do checks in terms of police clearance,” said Lazarus, emphasising that it is essential for drivers to comply with the law, have no outstanding tickets, and hold a valid licence disc. Vehicles must also be in good condition.

Londa uses its own cars, fitted with tracking devices to enforce speed limits and monitor vehicle movements. The platform also works with drivers using their own vehicles. Lazarus added that they are exploring ways to enhance the platform so that parents transporting their children can track the ride in real time.

Rejection has been a challenge for Lazarus and her team, with some people dismissing the idea or opting for existing, popular platforms. However, she noted that demand for Londa is high, as the team understands their target market. Funding was another challenge, but support from the government has given them hope.

She acknowledged Deputy Education Minister Dino Balotti for his helpful support.

In the long term, Lazarus hopes to expand Londa Rides across the country.