* The country’s roads are saturated with unregistered kabazas that are operated without registration plates or use of helmets
* They overload, don’t have signal rights or reflectors and most of them cannot pass certificate of fitness
* According to national health reports, many patients from road accident injuries in hospitals across the country are those involving kabaza operations
* The health sector is draining its scarce resources treating these injuries from avoidable cases of road accidents — thus this operation to flush out untrained and unlicenced road users
By Duncan Mlanjira
In its special 7-day operation across the country to force motorists and motorcycle taxis (kabaza) operators against using their vehicles without registration plates, the Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS) and the Malawi Police traffic department, have impounded a huge number of such vehicles.
On Saturday, the Directorate conducted an enforcement exercise targeting the kabaza operators and observed that despite sustained road safety awareness programmes, “a significant number of riders continue to operate without valid driving licenses and with unregistered motorcycles, contrary to the Road Traffic Act”.
The kabazas impounded by DRTSS
Thus, the Directorate reiterates its call to the kabaza to get their motorcycles registered and also to get trained on road traffic regulations at driving schools in order to be accredited with a driver’s licence.
“Kutsatira malamulo a pa msewu n’kofunika poteteza miyoyo yanu komanso ya ena (following road traffic regulations is very important in order to protect your lives and those of your passengers and others”), implores the DRTSS on its official Facebook page.
And to those already having a driver’s licence, they are being encouraged to register for defensive driving to learn even more on road traffic safety apart from the road use regulations.
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The country’s roads are saturated with unregistered kabazas that are operated without registration plates or use of helmets. They overload, don’t have signal rights or reflectors and most of them cannot pass certificate of fitness.
According to national health reports, many patients from road accident injuries in hospitals across the country are those involving kabaza operations. The health sector is draining its scarce resources treating these injuries from avoidable cases of road accidents — thus this operation to flush out untrained and unlicenced road users.
On Saturday, Malawi News Agency (MANA) reported that Nkhata Bay Police launched simultaneous operations in Nkhata Bay township, Mpamba and Chintheche that led to 36 motorcycles being impounded for alleged traffic law violations — that included operating unregistered motorcycles, riding without a valid licence, failure to wear crash helmets, and operating without insurance certificates, among others.
Kabaza confiscated in Nkhata Bay
On Friday, Kawale traffic police — who on January 16 impounded 26 motor vehicles for various road traffic offences — also confiscated 40 more cars on Friday as it intensified traffic enforcement operation across several locations within the city.
Traffic officers checked road networks within Kawale, including Chidzanja, Chipasula, Biwi, Mchesi, Kamuzu Institute and Area 23 and Kawale Police public relations officer, Sub-Inspector Precious Mabvuto Phiri, told MANA that the operation still forms part of an ongoing drive aimed at improving road safety and promoting compliance with traffic regulations.
He said the vehicles were found committing a range of offences, including exceeding seating capacity, driving without valid permits, worn-out tyres, defective brake lights and driving without valid licences.
Vehicles impounded by Kawale Police
Phiri noted that most of the impounded vehicles are used for commercial passenger transportation, particularly taxis and minibuses, which, if poorly regulated, pose a serious risk to public safety.
He added that the traffic enforcement exercise will continue as police intensify efforts to reduce road accidents and ensure strict adherence to traffic laws.
Meanwhile, some of the vehicles impounded without registration plates are owned by car importers and dealers, who — according to a dealer who confided with Maravi Express — get caught after using the vehicles outside the 14-day grace period they are allowed to ply public roads as they arrange to get them registered.
Unregistered vehicles by car importers and dealers that were impounded
According to Regulation 10(1) of the Road Traffic (Regulation and Licencing) Regulations, 2000, all imported motor vehicles have a 14-day grace period from the date they enter Malawi to complete all required registration process — which include clearance with the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), the Malawi Police Service (Interpol) and subsequent registration with the DRTSS.
After the expiry of this period, “any vehicle found operating with valid registration is deemed to have contravened the law”. But the car importers and dealers, as according to our source, cut corners of not getting their vehicles registered waiting for a customer to buy them and proceed to get it registered.
“As you know, this registration requires money and we wait until a customer is identifies and factor it in the cost of the car,” said our source. “When we use our resources to register the vehicles in our names, it means we still have to pay more in order to facilitate for change of ownership.”
Our source indicated that after the expiry of the 14-day period, they drive the vehicles to their designated places of business in the cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu very early in the morning before traffic police start operating.
“We then have them parked at our business places up until in the evening when we drive them back to safe parking areas in our residential areas and so on,” said our source.
However, it seems the DRTSS has taken note of this arrangement and posted on its Facebook page that in light of the ongoing enforcement against the use of unregistered vehicles, the Directorate has put in place a formal arrangement to facilitate their business operations.
The DRTSS indicates that all car importers and dealers are required to register with the Directorate in order to be issued with Motor Trader (MT) number plates, “which may be lawfully displayed on vehicles that are being offered for sale”.
However, to avoid abuse, the DRTSS emphasises that the MT plates are being issued “strictly to registered car importers and dealers and must only be used in accordance with the conditions set by DRTSS. Any vehicle operating without proper registration or valid MT plates will be subject to enforcement action.”
The DRTSS also has a word of advise on safety under its mandate, by reminding motorists against drunk-driving, to avoid speeding, overloading, distracted driving, and reckless overtaking.
“Remember that alcohol, fatigue, and impatience significantly impair judgment and reaction time. Motorcyclists and pedal cyclists are reminded to wear protective gear, while pedestrians should use designated crossing points and remain alert at all times.
“Let us all take responsibility to protect lives. Makosana, mukaledzera, call a taxi or call a friend, or madam akunyumba adzalutengeni. Arrive alive — no celebration is worth a life. Obey traffic laws, respect other road users, and make road safety your priority.—MANA reports by Patience Longwe in Lilongwe & Chisomo Kambandanga in Nkhata Bay
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