Wherever in the world we are, ordering clothing, groceries and food online and waiting for our orders to get to us is nothing new. However, imagine this, ordering and receiving fuel right to your doorstep. Not a common phenomenon but some Zimbabweans have made it a reality with their new “Fuel App.”
A player in the Zimbabwean market, Platinum Fuels, has decided to take matters into their own hands and allow citizens to order fuel online just as as easily as one would order fast food.
Innovative?
Well, this is the part where I scratch my head a little. On the surface it certainly seems like somewhat of a breakthrough that might,arguably, deserve recognition. It’s very likely that it might provide the convenience that it boasts for. In that case a very deserved congratulations to the company. However, imagine this hypothetical conversation that unfolds with Foreigner X.
Zimbabwean: Well, we’re so innovative and ahead of the times that we now have an app that allows us to buy fuel online and have it delivered to our houses
Foreigner X: What? Why? What facilitated that need?
Zimbabwean: Well…😬
This might have been an awkward conversation to continue but if i can read minds I’d guess the Zimbabwean was thinking something along the lines of:
Fuel crisis, fuel queues, malfunctioning systems, unstable economy. While some last experienced a fuel crisis between 1973 and 1981 as an effect of Arab-Israeli War, in the 21st century, we as a nation are still creating history in that regard.
That’s just a wild guess on what the Zimbabwean in the conversation might have said, however we’ll never know how that conversation really ended.
Nonetheless, there is no disputing how this idea, if executed properly, seems genius given the circumstances. There was a gap in the market and they recognized it. Simultaneously however, it could be something very telling of where the nation is.
What are your thoughts?