Contribution of Ict to Importaion of Second Hand Cars in Zimbabwe

According to Chandler and Munday (2012), Information and communication technology (ICT) refers to forms of technology that are used to transmit, process, store, create, display, share or exchange information by electronic means. This broad definition of ICT includes such technologies as radio, television, video, telephone, satellite systems, and computer and network hardware and software, as well as the equipment and services associated with these technologies, such as videoconferencing, e-mail and web browsing. ICT has contributed to the buying and selling of second hand motor vehicles in Zimbabwe as people can now access a wider market that is both locally and internationally where they have access to; real-time inventory information, wide selection of vehicles at low prices due to increased competition, secure electronic payment methods, rapid inter-personal communications and information accesses, cost-effective document transfer and reduced shopping time among other things.

According to Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), internet penetration rate as at December 2014 was around forty seven percent (47%) that is internet subscribers were around 6,2 million which is one of the highest internet penetration rates in Africa. In light of these statistics, it shows that there is therefore a paradigm shift from the traditional way of marketing of goods and services in Zimbabwe because of the increased use of ICT. The use of ICT is becoming increasingly critical to the success of every marketing strategy an individual or organisation employs, thereby contributing to the buying and selling of second hand vehicles in Zimbabwe.

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) which according to Zwass (2002), is any purchasing or selling of goods and services through ICT has brought about access to a very large market place of second hand motor vehicles for both buyers and sellers. Unlike in the past where one’s market was only be limited to a small...