Motorcycle taxis, locally known as kabaza, have been in the limelight for all the bad reasons, one of which being the perpetuation of the road accidents death toll in the country. Between 2014 and 2022, the rate of road accidents increased by 1,700 percent, according to Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS) and Malawi Police Service records. However, Kabaza operators themselves are, as CHRISPINE MSISKA, TIYESE MONJEZA and MPHATSO M’BANG’OME write, falling prey to criminals that pose as customers.
Molezi Lemison, 27, considers himself lucky for surviving a potential attack.
He is one of the motorcycle, locally known as kabaza, operators in Dowa District.
Lemison says, on that particular day, which happens to be February 14 this year, he was approached by a ‘customer’, who wanted a lift, of course at a fee, to Chimwaza Trading Centre to see his wife.
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However, according to Dowa Police Station spokesperson Alice Sitima, the two stopped at a drinking joint to consume drinks.
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They then proceeded to the house of the passenger, who took the motorcycle, valued at K1.1 million, from Lemison on the pretext that he wanted to see his biological sister within the village.
Lemison got the shock of his life when he— upon observing that the ‘passenger’ was not coming back to the house—asked the house owner about the ‘passenger’s’ whereabouts, only to learn that they were just friends.
“I reported the matter to Dzaleka Police Unit,” Lemison said.
In the same district, law enforcers recovered a Lifan motorcycle worth K1.2 million belonging to Limbani Samuel, 19, at Mvera Market.
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Samuel fell victim to unknown ‘passengers’ who hired him on January 1 2024.
Initially, they told him that he wanted to take them to Dowa Boma but, along the way, they ganged up against him, attacking him and going away with the motorbike.
He did the needful; reporting the issue to Chezi Police Unit officers who, through their investigations, arrested a man in connection with the issue on February 16 2024 at around 09:00hrs.
They found a man who was offering it for sale at Mvera Motorcycle Kabaza Rank.
The downside is that the suspect escaped.
The good thing is, the owner positively identified it.
Just this week, community members in Bua, Likasi, Nathyola, Nkhwazi and Misale villages in Mchinji District have decried cases of attacks on motorcycle operators.
In the latest development, businessman Charles Mwanza was allegedly killed along the stretch between Mchinji Teachers Training College and Ludzi Girls Turnoff.
The motorcycle he was using is yet to be recovered.
Now Traditional Authority Pinda has said he is planning to meet security agents and Traditional Authority Mavwere on the issue.
He said the idea is to find a lasting solution to the problem of attacks on kabaza operators.
“We are scheduled to meet police officers, community policing members, chiefs and businessmen soon so that, together, we can discuss the issue and see how we can address the problem,” Pinda said.
Meanwhile, Mchinji Police Station spokesperson Limbani Mpinganjira has said they are working around the clock to arrest people who are behind attacks on kabaza operators.
“We, at the same time, urge kabaza operators, businesspersons and members of the community to refrain from conducting business during odd hours,” Mpinganjira said.
The problem of attacks on kabaza operators is not just isolated to Dowa and Mchinji; it is a nationwide one.
In Zomba City, for example, law enforcers are doing their best to curb such attacks.
According to Zomba Police Station Victim Support Unit Coordinator Rose Chiwaya, there have been increased cases of attacks on kabaza operators there.
She described the development as worrisome.
“Since January, the district has recorded five attacks on motorcycle taxi operators, who ended up having their motorcycles stolen while others were stabbed,” Chiwaya said yesterday during a motorcycle safety driving awareness meeting which Malawi Coalition for Kabaza Stakeholders Association (Macokasa) organised.
“We believe that cases of attacks can be reduced if motorcycle operators stop operating during odd hours. We have noted that a lot of criminals target motorcycle operators at night and we appeal to motorcycle operators to ensure that they are knocking off by 20:00,” Chiwaya said.
Meanwhile, DRTSS Assistant Traffic Officer Lloyd Banda has urged motorcycle operators to get driver’s licences.
“We believe that trained motorcycle operators who have licences can help reduce cases of unnecessary road accidents involving these operators,” Banda said.
On his part, Macokasa Chairperson Moses Mwalabu said they would continue engaging motorcycle operators to register their motorcycles.
