Revenue generated from Mibawa minibus terminal not specifically allocated towards its service improvement—Blantyre City Council

* During the first half of 2026, a total of K46,306,800 in revenue was collected from Mibawa terminal to support Blantyre City Council’s general operations

* Raising concerns that the fees paid do not commensurate with the services provided at the terminal — especially passenger security in the evenings

Maravi Express

During the first half of 2026, Blantyre City Council collected a total of K46,306,800 in revenue from minibuses that use Mibawa bus terminal in the Blantyre City’s central business district (CBD).

However, Minibus Owners Association of Malawi (MOAM) raises concerns that the fees paid do not commensurate with the services provided at the terminal — especially passenger security in the evenings.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), MOAM general secretary, Coxley Kamange bemoaned the quality of services provided, saying the operators are facing several challenges.

These include security threats for both operators and passengers during evening hours, that are affecting the effective use of the terminal.

“Some passengers opt to board minibuses from nearby shops because they are afraid of using the terminal at night,” said Kamange, who also raised concerns about the fees minibus operators are forced to pay to the cartel of touts — commonly known as call boys.

He thus questions whether the fees paid are commensurate with the services provided at the terminal: “Operators are required to pay the council, but they are also asked to pay call boys.

“In some cases, the amounts demanded by these individuals are even higher than the charges imposed by the council,” said Kamange.

But in an interview with MANA on Monday, Blantyre City Council public relations officer, Deborah Luka maintained that “the revenue that has been generated between January and June this year is not specifically allocated towards the improvement of the bus terminal facility, but it’s like other revenue generated by the council”.

She indicated that the Council works with traffic police from Blantyre Police Station to ensure that minibus operators comply with the requirement to use Mibawa as a designated drop-off point.

“We are working with the police to ensure that minibus operators comply with the designated points and that Mibawa is utilized effectively as intended,” she said.

However, as observed by Maravi Express, passengers do not go to Mibawa terminal since the minibuses park along the Haile Selassie Road after 17h00, especially at what is known as Nandos.

Since Mibawa terminal becomes deserted of commuter traffic, the place becomes a security risk, thus passengers finding minibuses parked along the Haile Selassie Road convenient.

Kamange thus proposes the adoption of a first-come, first-served system to ensure a more organised operation system, saying: “We need all stakeholders in the transport sector to meet and discuss these challenges.

He further called for the closure of undesignated minibus stages and appropriate action against illegal transport operators as part of efforts to restore order and discipline to the passenger transport sector in Blantyre.

In 2025, Blantyre City Council rehabilitated the Mibawa bus terminal to not only benefit commuters but also contribute to the City’s overall growth and development.

The upgrade was part of a broader effort by the Council to transform the City’s transportation infrastructure.—Reporting for MANA by Hendrina Fourbags; edited by Duncan Mlanjira; Maravi Express