NewsDay (Zimbabwe)

Gateway Stream - Your online one-stop shop

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THE Gateway Stream is Zimbabwe’s first super-app with nine sub-apps across a diverse range of products and services. Owned by Rainbow Tourism Group, the platform was locally conceptual­ised and developed to the platform it is today. The Gateway Stream is a homegrown innovation that Zimbabwean­s can be proud of.

A global diversifie­d and unified online business ecosystem, Gateway Stream delivers perpetual, passive, and active income. The platform provides access to markets and connects customers with the highest quality of products and services. Now zero-rated, users will save on data costs when they use the platform as they will not have any charges during usage.

What products and services are available on the Gateway Stream?

Hospitalit­y and Leisure: This covers hotels, homes, boats and holiday packages. Here users can book accommodat­ion at listed hotels, lodges, and other alternativ­e accommodat­ion like campsites, boats, or a homestay. The holiday packages sub-app gives the user the freedom and control to create a holiday package as well as select from an exciting list of leisure activities. This is a model outside of the traditiona­l pre-made holiday packages that give users the ability and control to create their holiday packages from the many activities available. There are multiple listed packages available as well. Gateway Stream has over 50 000 rooms across Africa. Some of the listed partners include the City Lodge Group of South Africa.

Food and Drink subapp: Users will find a variety of food options with over 45 restaurant­s. Customers can process their order on the platform and opt to either collect their meal or for Gateway Stream to deliver to their doorstep.

Online shopping subapp; With over 5 000 hardware and appliances listed, users have a one-stop shop for all their building and DIY needs. This sub-app product range has been extended to now offer clothing, including school uniforms, through a strategic partnershi­p with Enbee Stores.

Groceries shopping subapp: There are over 3 000 grocery items listed per region. These include food items; meats, vegetables, beverages, and liquor; household items — detergents, toiletries, etc.

Book-a-ride sub-app: This ride hailing service enables a user to book a trip and instantly get a driver allocated for pick up. The extensive driver network makes processing a trip easy, with all confirmati­ons done instantly.

Events and Venues subapp: Users can book cinema tickets, virtual music concerts, and sporting events.

Insurance sub-app: Through strategic partnershi­ps with leading insurance service providers that include CBZ Insurance, First Mutual Life, and CredSure, Gateway Stream now offers a variety of insurance products which include motor vehicle, property, medical and funeral cover. These products are available for both the local and diaspora markets.

Music sub-app: Gateway Stream Music is a multi-dimensiona­l entertainm­ent platform that offers audio, video, live-streaming services, and over 30 000 songs.

Users can enjoy free content streaming (music, videos), buy music, and watch live virtual shows through the Pay-Per-View feature. Artists can upload their music, set pricing, interact with fans through the interactiv­e social feature and host virtual shows.

Online auctions: This is one of the most popular offerings on the platform, where customers can bid for a room and get very competitiv­e rates, book, then pay online.

How can I pay for products and services available on the platform?

Gateway Stream has various payment options for the convenienc­e of users as follows:

Local mobile money platforms (Ecocash, Onemoney, Tele cash.)

V-payments (Locally issued bank cards Zimswitch).

MasterCard, Visa card, Amex, internatio­nal cards.

Regional mobile payments (Airtel Money, Vodafone mPesa MTN mobile money, M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa). Paypal.

Direct Payments Online (DPO) for countries on the African continent.

What is the geographic­al reach?

Gateway Stream has regional offices in Harare, Bulawayo, Matabelela­nd North, Midlands, Masvingo, Manicaland, and Kadoma, to ensure seamless service. The geographic­al coverage of these regions is extended beyond these cities and towns to the more distant places such as Gokwe, Gwanda, and Chipinge through a nodal network. This ensures that deliveries across the country are done within our delivery promise timeline of 48 hours, in a coordinate­d manner. Most of our users are Zimbabwean­s living in the diaspora ordering for their loved ones. We have received orders from the UK, USA, Russia, Australia, Dubai, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana amongst many other countries.

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