By Khumbo Kaliwo:
Efforts to sanitise motorcycles—locally known as kabaza— operations are taking a slow pace.
This is following revelations that only 0.35 percent of the operators have registered with the Malawi Coalition for Kabaza Stakeholders Association (Macokasa).
Information released by the association shows that the country has 2,578,909 motorcycles but only 7,912, which is about 0.35%, are registered.
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This was revealed in Lilongwe during the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Lilongwe City Council (LCC) and Macokasa which aims at bringing sanity in the Kabaza business operations.
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Mayor for the City of Lilongwe, Richard Banda said this comes after the Kabaza business operators petitioned the council last year accusing the government of imposing decisions without consulting them.
Banda urged the Kabaza business operators to follow the contents of the agreement and do their business in a proper way.
“Among others, we have agreed that they must put on safety helmets, should not take more than one passenger and they should be insured,” Banda said.
Macokasa national chairperson, Moses Mwalabu said all associations under Macokasa will partner all district and town councils to bring sanity to the business.
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“Some district councils are overcharging us and we want to fight for uniform bylaws in all districts, “Mwalabu said
Mwalabu added that Macokasa will make sure any Kabaza operator is registered as they are lobbying government to remove other heavy fees a move which he said will enable them to afford to acquire licenses.
After signing the MoU, the kabaza operators went to Malawi Blood Transfusion offices to donate blood.
