Kabaza programme sustainable, says Gwengwe

Minister of Industry and Trade, who is also Peoples Party (PP) presidential running mate Sosten Gwengwe, has said the motor cycle taxis also called kabaza programme is sustainable because it is not completely new.

Speaking in an interview after handing over motor cycles to kabaza operators at Makhetha in Blantyre on Friday, Gwengwe said the programme has been modelled around a motor cycle taxi business in Malawi’s border districts.

“The programme is sustainable because others have been doing this on their own, especially in Malawi’s border districts, including Dedza, Chikwawa, Nsanje, Mchinji, where people have imported motor cycles from Mozambique and other neighbouring countries to operate in this business,” he said.

Gwengwe said to ensure sustainability of the business, the motor cycles which are on loans are being given to people who are already business-oriented and are in the kabaza business.

He argued that there is already patronage for the motor cycle kabaza services because although some would prefer to walk, others prefer bicycles, others a car while others prefer a motor cycle.

Gwengwe noted that in Kenya, there are over 500 000 youths participating in motor cycle taxi business which is called bodaboda, noting that Malawi’s programme will achieve the same feat in the next five years.

Launched in March this year by President Joyce Banda, 200 motor cycles have been distributed so far, according to Gwengwe who said the programme is being bankrolled by the Joyce Banda Foundation and is an interest free revolving fund.