* Not aware of any Kabaza operator officially registered with the city authority — thus they could not provide a designated parking spaces for unregistered operators
* They need to come to us, identify themselves as operators to get registered and they should also be properly trained by the Department of Road Traffic & Safety Services, as we must ensure the safety of all city residents
By Alex Mlanga, MANA
Motorcycle taxi operators (kabaza) have been strongly advised by Blantyre City Council to get registered first if their business existence is to be recognised by the city authority.
This follows Blantyre’s kabaza operators request to the City Council to provide them designated operating spaces within the city as opposed to current situation that sees them operating in undesignated places in town in conflict with traffic regulations.
In response to a follow up by Malawi News Agency (MANA), Blantyre City Council Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Chinseu said he was not aware of any Kabaza operator officially registered with the city authority — thus they could not provide designated parking spaces for unregistered operators.
“They need to come to us, identify themselves as operators to get registered,” Chinseu said. “They should also be properly trained by the Department of Road Traffic & Safety Services, as we must ensure the safety of all city residents,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Chinseu
In an interview with MANA, kabaza operator, Maxwell Teketeke said he was aware of inconveniences caused by undesignated parking spaces but added that most operators have no choice but to operate — though in conflict with traffic regulations.
He said on average operators earn between K8,000 and K15,000 per day despite difficulties, however, they bemoaned that many operators are fined by traffic police for breaking route restrictions often compelling them to pay heavy penalties.
“We know the law, but sometimes we have no choice but to break them because there are so few places for us to operate,” he confessed. “We are given huge fines to the extent of K100,000 which make us get loans to retrieve our [confiscated] bikes.
He also expressed concern over motorcycle operators’ safety, saying minibus drivers often ignore motorbikes safety on the road: “One time, a minibus hit me, and the driver sped off leaving me behind in pain. Minibus operators dont respect us.”
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Also reached was Blantyre Police Office-in-Charge, Assistant Commissioner, Aubrey Kawale, who admitted that motorcycle operators are fined depending on an offence they commit.
“Police charge every committed offence and these include; fines for riding without licence at K15,000; riding without insurance (K50,000); riding an unregistered bike (K20,000) and without a helmet (K10,000), among others,” Kawale said.
On safety measures, the Officer-in-Charge said the police have community policing office responsible for sensitising motor bicycle operators on road safety.
Kawale, however, observed that some motorbike operators are suspected of using their bikes to facilitate crime in the city.
Last month, regional community policing coordinator for the South-West Region Police, Superintendent Memory Mgeni warned Kabaza operators to avoid operating at night as they sometimes aid criminals.
She this during an awareness campaign on road safety following frequent road accidents in which kabaza operators are involved in — an activity that was organised by Malawi Coalition for Kabaza Stakeholders Association (MACOKASA).
Mgeni said the police were happy with MACOKASA’s initiative and expressed hope that the awareness campaign will help to remind Kabaza operators about traffic rules and regulations to protect their lives, passengers and other road users’ lives.
As the police, she advised the kabaza operators that operating at at odd hours put their life at risk of being attacked by robbers that pretend to be bonafide passengers, saying: “Investigations are showing that some kabaza operators are fond of doing business during odd hours which leads to theft of their motorcycles, sustaining severe injuries and even loss of life.
“They are enticed with huge sums of money to carry a person at odd hours not knowing that the person is a criminal.”
Superintendent Memory Mgeni
MACOKASA initiative comes after Malawi Orthopedic Association concluded similar awareness campaign for kabaza safety on September 18 in Blantyre and speaking at Makheta Township in Blantyre at another event, MACOKASA national chairperson, Moses Michael Mwalabo said they were compelled to organise the awareness campaign following frequent road accidents which are caused by the kabaza operators.
“We also wanted to remind the kabaza operators the importance of following road safety rules and regulations like — carrying one passenger, wearing crash helmets, reflectors and safety shoes other than sandals or slippers,” he said.
MACOKASA also assured they were engaging government to reduce registration fees and to provide trainings across the country for the kabaza operators and to work with the Directorate of Road Traffic & Safety Services to facilitate the services of driving schools.
In September, during a kabaza safety awareness campaign function at Area 25, Nsungwi in Lilongwe, Deputy Minister of Health, Halima Daudi observed that statistics of road traffic accidents involving kabaza are alarming.
She emphasised that such rise in accidents presents a public health crisis that touches every aspect of the nation, including the health system, families and the economy.
“Data of motorcycle accidents for 2022-2023 shows that 1,800 people died from injuries sustained from accidents involved by kabaza operators,” she said.
“These are not just numbers behind each statistic, but a story of pain, loss, struggle — particularly among young men aged between 15-59 most of whom are bread winners in the families.
“The ripple effect of these injuries extend beyond the immediate trauma, leaving long lasting socio economic scars on both families and community.”
The Deputy Minister also commended the Malawi Orthopedic Association (MOA) for tirelessly working to raise awareness and promote safer practices within the kabaza community.
Speaking at the same function, British High Commissioner to Malawi, Fiona Richie, said 10% of GDP is lost due to road traffic accidents and added that laws concerning road traffic should always be adhered to at all times.
In her remarks, president of the Malawi Orthopaedic Association (MOA) Maureen Sabao said there is a huge burden of road accidents in the country with 49% of road accidents in the country being from motorcycles.
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“I can give an example of Lions Hospital, we have a bed capacity of 65 but right now we are operating on 135 bed capacity which means it is a huge problem, and this goes to all central hospitals as they also admit patients involved in road accidents.”
She added that those admitted at the hospital are many and one patient can have multiple fractures which means that if they are admitted they are using resources that could have been covered by five people.
She said such fractures take time to heal to a period of not more than two to three months: “Thus, if a person was working then he will not work for that period and economically that person is suffering and as a country we are using a lot of health budget.”—Additional content by MANA; editing by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express
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