Firm seeks to transform Zim’s job market

Daniel Chigunwe

Herald Correspondent

BUSINESSMAN and tech entrepreneur Mr Jefta Mugweni of Toda Technologies has launched Toda Freelancers, a groundbreaking digital platform designed to connect freelancers and job-seekers with verified clients both within Zimbabwe and across the Diaspora.

The rise of online workspaces has created new income-generating avenues, but it has also exposed job-seekers to increasing cases of scams, fake job offers, robberies, kidnappings and even human trafficking.

Determined to create a safe and reliable online marketplace, Mr Mugweni developed Toda Freelancers to sanitise the digital workspace by ensuring that professionals and clients interact within a secure, verified environment.

Toda Freelancers accommodates a wide range of professionals including plumbers, doctors, teachers, engineers, accountants, hairdressers, decorators, web designers, and many others linking them directly with companies or individuals in need of their services.

Speaking to The Herald, Mr Mugweni said his mission is to harness the internet to reduce unemployment and protect job seekers from online criminals.

“Toda Freelancers is a new product emerging in the digital market aiming for the creation of a platform where a pool of professionals can meet the demands of various clientele on a day-to-day basis.

“Our entrance in the market is also driven by the motive to minimise cases of fake internet job offers, which have seen many desperate job seekers manipulated and victimised. So we are actually a game changer in how the internet can be harnessed in ending unemployment challenges,” he said.

Toda Technologies: Zimbabwe’s Rising Fintech Giant

Available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the platform is the second major innovation under the Toda Technologies brand, following the success of Toda Rider, a taxi service modeled along the same lines as inDrive.

Initially launched in 2019, Toda Rider faced disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic but has since relaunched and grown into a fleet of 900 drivers operating across key cities including Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Beitbridge, Kwekwe, Masvingo, and Mutare.

Toda Freelancers aims to benefit more than 120,000 freelancers, job seekers, students, and recent graduates by April 2026, aligning with Zimbabwe’s employment and youth empowerment goals.

“We are building a future where talent knows no boundaries; we are not just another freelancing platform , we are redefining how professionals connect, collaborate, and create opportunities in a global community.

“Whilst driven by innovation and fairness, Toda Freelancers offers a dynamic marketplace for services, projects, and career-building opportunities,” said Mr Mugweni.

The application features an integrated communication system and location-based pop-up features, making it easier for clients to locate nearby freelancers quickly. Users pay a monthly subscription of USD $4.99, and Toda does not take commissions from any transactions between freelancers and clients.

Expanding its footprint, Toda Freelancers has already been launched in South Africa, marking the beginning of a regional ambition to revolutionize digital employment ecosystems across Africa.

“So far we have launched Toda Freelancers in South Africa, as we are not only limited to Zimbabwe. Our mission is to revolutionize the power of the internet in ending unemployment issues in Africa,” he added.

Zimbabwe is steadily embracing technology as a key driver of economic growth, with digital innovation becoming central to national transformation efforts.

As the country works toward achieving an upper middle-income economy by 2030, sectors such as fintech, e-government services, digital transport platforms, and ICT startups have rapidly expanded.

Government support for digitalization, increased internet penetration, and rising youth participation in tech entrepreneurship have all contributed to a thriving digital ecosystem.

Solutions like mobile money platforms, ride-hailing applications, e-learning systems, and now Toda Freelancers reflect Zimbabwe’s commitment to leveraging technology to create jobs, enhance service delivery, and strengthen economic resilience.