Mobility is a challenge especially in Lilongwe with its limited minibuses routes – routes that work for those who have private transport, but not those who do not own a vehicle or motorbike. I guess this is because of the assumption that all people who live in a certain area have cars.

If one wants to leave Area 47, Sector 4 to City Centre, they must get a bus to town, and then get another to city centre. They might also go to Area 18, and get a minibus or taxi to go to City Centre. This is even though there is a tarmac road that connects Area 47, Sector 4, to City Centre. With Kabaza, however, you can get a direct ride from Area 47 to City Centre. The trip with the minibus is likely going to take you about an hour, but with Kabaza it should take you less than an hour, not to mention the fact that it will drop you at the actual destination and not just the ‘bus stop.’

Every time, I hear that Kabaza riders have been banned from plying in our cities I get worried. I always ask, ‘What happens to the people who use Kabaza?  Have you put in place a minibus service that will cater for that area?’

I get even more worried when I see that pile of bikes at Mzuzu Police that have been confiscated from Kabaza operators. What are the owners of those bikes now doing to survive in this economy?

I know for a fact that Kabaza is helping Malawi to reduce unemployment even though it is by a decimal. I know that Kabaza saves the youth from engaging in crime to survive during these trying times. I know that income from Kabaza is helping some families get their daily bread.

I understand that the sight of Kabaza in our major cities, particularly city centres, might not be good for ‘tourism’ and our ‘image.’ I understand that culturally Kabaza is associated with poverty, and we do not want to portray an image that people in our cities are poor although we all know that we poor people hiding behind loaned clothes, shoes, weaves etc.

I am also aware that Kabaza operators do not necessarily follow traffic rules because some of them do not even know that we have traffic rules. By getting rid of Kabazas, are we also not denying our citizens the mobility service they provide?

The Directorate of Road Traffic can help us train Kabaza operators in Malawi. The operators need to be familiar with the basic road safety regulations. This will help to reduce accidents that involved the Kabaza. It will further help save the lives of the Kabaza operators and those of their passengers.

Making our roads to be cyclist friendly will benefit many people. It is no secret that we experience traffic jam in the morning, lunch hour and the time that we knock off from work. Despite this challenge, Malawians continue to import cars that will further increase traffic jams in our major cities because the roads are not being expanded. By making our roads to be cyclist friendly, we might reduce the number of cars that use our roads on a daily basis.

Nongovernmental organisations, civil society groups and the government may also want to consider the Kabaza business as one option out of poverty. It is becoming clear that Kabaza generates income that can allow one to take care of him or herself. The increase in the number of Kabaza operators is testimony of the fact that there is a high demand for this service. In your livelihood programs, you might also want to explore Kabaza.

I believe with this approach will be able to get a double win on road safety and livelihood.

About the author

Chimwemwe John Paul Manyozo is a Chevening Alumni and Research Associate at Royal Commonwealth Association.Kabaza, Road Safety and Livelihood

I will start by putting it out there that I am a fan of Kabaza. After riding Kabaza to and from work with my Kabaza man for almost two years, I came to appreciate the benefits of Kabaza, especially the part where the Kabaza man and I had a monthly payment arrangement. I know, I am not the only who has benefitted greatly from Kabaza.

Mobility is a challenge especially in Lilongwe with its limited minibuses routes – routes that work for those who have private transport, but not those who do not own a vehicle or motorbike. I guess this is because of the assumption that all people who live in a certain area have cars.

If one wants to leave Area 47, Sector 4 to City Centre, they must get a bus to town, and then get another to city centre. They might also go to Area 18, and get a minibus or taxi to go to City Centre. This is even though there is a tarmac road that connects Area 47, Sector 4, to City Centre. With Kabaza, however, you can get a direct ride from Area 47 to City Centre. The trip with the minibus is likely going to take you about an hour, but with Kabaza it should take you less than an hour, not to mention the fact that it will drop you at the actual destination and not just the ‘bus stop.’

Every time, I hear that Kabaza riders have been banned from plying in our cities I get worried. I always ask, ‘What happens to the people who use Kabaza?  Have you put in place a minibus service that will cater for that area?’

I get even more worried when I see that pile of bikes at Mzuzu Police that have been confiscated from Kabaza operators. What are the owners of those bikes now doing to survive in this economy?

I know for a fact that Kabaza is helping Malawi to reduce unemployment even though it is by a decimal. I know that Kabaza saves the youth from engaging in crime to survive during these trying times. I know that income from Kabaza is helping some families get their daily bread.

I understand that the sight of Kabaza in our major cities, particularly city centres, might not be good for ‘tourism’ and our ‘image.’ I understand that culturally Kabaza is associated with poverty, and we do not want to portray an image that people in our cities are poor although we all know that we poor people hiding behind loaned clothes, shoes, weaves etc.

I am also aware that Kabaza operators do not necessarily follow traffic rules because some of them do not even know that we have traffic rules. By getting rid of Kabazas, are we also not denying our citizens the mobility service they provide?

The Directorate of Road Traffic can help us train Kabaza operators in Malawi. The operators need to be familiar with the basic road safety regulations. This will help to reduce accidents that involved the Kabaza. It will further help save the lives of the Kabaza operators and those of their passengers.

Making our roads to be cyclist friendly will benefit many people. It is no secret that we experience traffic jam in the morning, lunch hour and the time that we knock off from work. Despite this challenge, Malawians continue to import cars that will further increase traffic jams in our major cities because the roads are not being expanded. By making our roads to be cyclist friendly, we might reduce the number of cars that use our roads on a daily basis.

Nongovernmental organisations, civil society groups and the government may also want to consider the Kabaza business as one option out of poverty. It is becoming clear that Kabaza generates income that can allow one to take care of him or herself. The increase in the number of Kabaza operators is testimony of the fact that there is a high demand for this service. In your livelihood programs, you might also want to explore Kabaza.

I believe with this approach will be able to get a double win on road safety and livelihood.