TAP a Meal, a Namibian app-based food delivery service which served Windhoek residents throughout the Covid-19 lockdowns, has announced it is temporarily closing due to robbery fears.
On Monday, the company said the temporary closure was for the sake of the safety of staff members after a robbery took place.
“Due to an incident involving armed robbers holding up the drivers at the dispatch office of Tap a Meal, we are not in a position to continue our activities at the moment. The safety of our team comes first,” the statement says. The company says it is unpleasant and traumatic for staff members to be held at gunpoint.
“Investigations are ongoing and Tap a Meal is, of course, fully cooperating with the police. We hope to be able to commence with our food delivery service in the future, however, this would depend on the investigations and whether Tap a Meal can guarantee the safety of its employees, as well as our equipment,” the company says.
Estelle Petersen of Tap a Meal says: “It’s not just a question of the material costs of a robbery, but the impact it has on our people cannot be underestimated either.
“Business continuity and people’s livelihoods are jeopardised as a result of criminal activities.”
Tap a Meal has expressed gratitude to all its customers, restaurants, takeaway establishments, and cafés for their support.
“We hope to serve you again in the future. You are the ones who have made this delivery service the success it is,” the statement reads.
During the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, the hospitality industry had to adhere to strict rules and regulations.
One way to stay afloat was to offer takeaways and delivery services.
Tap a Meal customers could select items from a restaurant and place an order.
Once the restaurant accepted the order the customer could track its progress via the app.
A Tap a Meal driver would then collect the order and deliver it to the customer wherever they were in Windhoek.
The app, which could be downloaded on Android and Ios systems, has been downloaded by more than 5 000 people.
Petersen says the app helped keep restaurants open and has employed a fleet of licensed and qualified delivery drivers during a period when many Namibians lost their jobs.
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