E Taxi Namibia (Pty) Ltd has officially launched a locally developed ride-hailing platform that seeks to digitise Namibia’s shared taxi industry while giving drivers greater control over pricing through a fixed N$2 platform service fee.
The platform, unveiled in Windhoek, departs from conventional ride-hailing models by allowing registered taxi operators and eligible private vehicle owners to compete for passengers by submitting ride offers after commuters request transport through the mobile application.
Passengers can compare offers based on price, proximity and convenience before selecting their preferred driver.
E Taxi Namibia Managing Director Ester Kalangula said the platform was designed specifically for Namibia’s transport environment rather than replicating international ride-hailing models.
“Why should Namibia wait for solutions developed elsewhere when the country has the talent, creativity and innovation to develop solutions for its own people? We wanted to preserve what already works while improving it through technology,” she said.
Unlike traditional ride-hailing platforms that determine fares through algorithms, E Taxi allows drivers to set their own prices while charging a fixed N$2 service fee per completed trip, regardless of distance or demand.
Kalangula said commuters can choose between shared and private rides. Private vehicles are identified with a “P” on the application, while registered taxis appear with their taxi numbers, enabling passengers to distinguish between the two.
She said the platform is intended to give passengers more choice while giving drivers greater flexibility in setting fares.
“The driver sets the fare. A private driver may charge N$30 from Maerua Mall to Grove Mall, while a taxi driver may charge N$35. It is up to the driver because they determine the price. The passenger receives different offers from different drivers and chooses the one they prefer,” she said.
The application was designed and developed by Namibian technology company WOW Technologies.
E Taxi Namibia Chief Executive Officer Werner Alweendo said the platform was built around Namibia’s existing transport ecosystem rather than attempting to replace it.
“From the outset, our objective was never simply to build another transport application. Every design decision, from the driver offer model to the fixed N$2 platform service fee, was intentional. We wanted technology that reflects how mobility actually works in Namibia while giving drivers greater control and passengers greater choice,” he said.
Kalangula said the service is designed to improve convenience by allowing passengers to be dropped off directly at their gate or preferred destination.
She added that the platform’s long-term success will depend on public trust, arguing that locally developed technology can provide practical solutions to Namibia’s transport challenges.
