Ride-hailing drivers in Botswana are feeling the financial strain following the introduction of a 10% commission by inDrive and rising operational costs, particularly fuel prices. The commission policy, coupled with growing competition from Bolt, which launched in the country earlier this year, has sparked calls from drivers for fare adjustments to reflect the current economic realities.Initially attracting drivers in 2019 with its zero-commission model, inDrive has recently introduced the charge to sustain its operations and expand its services. However, drivers argue that this change has negatively impacted their earnings, especially as base fares remain low.
“We need the fares to increase to make this job sustainable. It’s not easy to make ends meet with these commissions,” one driver shared.
Negotiation Frustrations
A core feature of inDrive is its unique pricing model, which allows riders and drivers to negotiate fares directly. While this initially offered flexibility, drivers now express frustration as riders increasingly offer low prices that make the work less viable.“For instance, a trip that used to cost P100 is now being offered at P50, and after negotiating, I might only get P60,” a driver explained.In some cases, drivers attempt to negotiate higher fares with customers outside the app’s quoted price, but this practice risks negative ratings and conflicts with inDrive’s policies.
Expanding Market Competition
Despite the discontent among drivers, inDrive continues to grow its presence in Botswana, recently expanding to Francistown. This move pits the platform against Bolt, which entered the market earlier this year, intensifying competition in the ride-hailing space.Drivers hope the increased competition will create a push for more favorable terms, but for now, they continue to call on inDrive to adjust base fares and consider their plight.
