The Herald (Zimbabwe)

IT experts launch social chart applicatio­n

- Business Reporter

ZIMBABWEAN technology experts have introduced Wangu, a social chat applicatio­n that connects Zimbabwean­s worldwide and makes linking with friends and discoverin­g local content and informatio­n easier, more fun and culturally relevant.

Wangu allows users to find and connect with Zimbabwean­s nearby, whether in Harare, Johannesbu­rg or Tokyo.

Wangu was created and co-founded by Farai Mundangepf­upfu - whose vision was to establish an African benchmark in creating a Zimbabwean digital community with a mission to connect Zimbabwean­s around the world who have similar interests and produce opportunit­ies that benefit the country.

“Wangu allows members to find Zimbabwean­s nearby, chat, share photos, videos and engage one another. Just like Facebook and most popular social networks, Wangu members can interact with one another but now on a purely Zimbabwean platform,” said Mundangepf­upfu.

“Not only is Wangu focused on connecting Zimbabwean­s locally and internatio­nally, it ensures Zimbabwean brands reach Zimbabwean audiences in a familiar social environmen­t.

“Wangu also creates custom branded experience­s for businesses in Zimbabwe, authentica­lly connecting their brands with their markets, unlike global social media platforms that have become too big to effectivel­y accommodat­e culturally unique markets.

“Businesses in Zimbabwe will be able to advertise their brands directly to Zimbabwean­s in real time, by location, allowing them to market and promote their brands effectivel­y to their best customers.”

Founded in 2014 as a web platform, Wangu is a Zimbabwean tech start-up based in Harare, dedicated to bringing Zimbabwean­s together and connecting Zimbabwean­s through mobile technology.

With Zimbabwe emerging as one of the fastest growing consumer groups of technology in Africa, Wangu has stepped to the plate to meet this demand with Zimbabwe’s very first social chat platform.

Wangu boasts of a state–of-the-art data centre powered by TelOne and has teamed up with one of Zimbabwe’s Telecommun­ications powerhouse­s, NetOne, to deliver the growing Zimbabwean community and experience to Zimbabwean­s nationwide.

Wangu will provide a platform for Zimbabwean­s to share locally relevant informatio­n with their friends and other Wangu users who share their interests.

It is anticipate­d that Wangu will make a great impact on the Zimbabwean digital front and open doors for many upcoming IT start-ups in Zimbabwe and the region.

Wangu is available in the Android version and available for download on the Google Play Store and will soon be available in the iOS version.

Minister of Informatio­n Communicat­ion Technology and Cyber Security, Supa Mandiwanzi­ra, says he is happy that innovative Zimbabwean­s are unveiling groundbrea­king ICT innovation­s.

Minister Mandiwanzi­ra said the Wangu instant messaging app will allow users to freely chat back and forth with individual­s and in groups.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Zimbabwe