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By Chimeno Azriel
Afrosoft Holdings (a software company) has brought relief to mourners who were finding it difficult to give a befitting send off to their loved ones.
The group has partnered with SAWA, a Swaziland based Company in developing and launching a new application called SHA-Shamwari Parwendo which is an all in one convenient and affordable solution.
Speaking to Spiked Online Media, Afrosoft Regional Sales Executive and SAWA Director who is also a former Zimbabwean Deputy Ambassador to Tanzania, Walter Sande said the SHA application will go a long way in providing funeral-related services for individuals who are not adequately covered by their funeral service provider and those who find it difficult to have a funeral policy cover.
“Our product is a platform that aims to provide funeral related services for Zimbabweans who do not have funeral policy cover regardless of their location. The platform also seeks to liberalise the provision of funeral services by providing Uber-for-X type platform where the users can simply sign up and request the services based on their budget,” said Sande.
Afrosoft is a Zimbabawe Software Company established in 1999 and has other subsidiaries in East Africa.
“Through SHA, Afrosoft has brought much relief to mourners who can now have many options to choose from. We seek to offer an alternative to funeral policy cover, catering specifically for those who cannot afford monthly funeral policy instalments but in no way compromising on the much needed help that a bereaved individual might need,” Sande added.
Speaking to this publication, the Chairman of Afrosoft Holding Group Engineer John Mberi said he was delighted to have a great team for working in establishing SHA and was proud to say SHA was a collaboration of business and technology and was a testimony to what the company strive to achieve.
Engineer Mberi said the group did not come up with general products but unique products that have people’s needs at heart.
He made an assurance that SHA will provide quality services that guarantee value of people’s money.
“People can be assured that their money is put to the actual use intended and service is guaranteed. SHA is providing an opportunity for people to grieve their loved ones without funeral logistics stressing while guaranteed that they also get value for their money.” Engineer Mberi explained.
According to Sande, the prevailing socio-economic environment in Zimbabwe has widened the gap between the rich and the poor and the income disparity has left the majority unable to afford any form of insurance.
“The socio-economic environment in Zimbabwe has created a huge gap among the citizens and most of them do not have any form of insurance let alone funeral policies and especially those in the diaspora when faced with repatriations.”
He highlighted that when most people are faced with bereavement, they are faced with a mountainous task to raise funds for the funeral or repatriation costs hence the establishment of SHA.
The platform is going to help in times of need and SHA is available on Android and iOS for users and a Web portal for funeral parlous and service providers.
SHA has a number of services that are offered and some of them include mourners transport, Repatriation, Cremation, Catering, Coffins, Tents, Coffin transport, Funeral Director, Mortuary services and Tombstone.
According to Mr Sande, users of the mobile application can create an account and request funeral services and the funeral parlours will respond with quotations of the requested services.
“As of now, we have eight parlours that have signed up with SHA. Users just need to input their budget and service needs and then choose from those that give them the value for their money,” said Sande.
Born 39 years ago, Sande an avid golfer and also a former diplomat for almost 13 years said he was touched by hardship situations his Zimbabwean colleagues mostly in the Diaspora go through to repatriate or even bury their loved ones.
This prompted him under SAWA Pty Ltd, a consultant company to partner with the software giant Afrosoft Holdings in developing SHA to lighten the burden met by mourners.
Launched in 2021, SHA has various exciting and interesting features that are expected to be added to the application that includes the Chema Crowd Fund that allows users to receive chema contributions and Testimonials for users to post testimonials after receiving services through SHA.
Currently, SHA supports Ecocash and VISA/Mastercard payments but more payments options such as ZIPIT, Paypal and OneMoney are expected in the near future.