By Jones Gadama
Malawians deserve transport that is safe, dignified and orderly. And under the visionary, empathetic and patriotic leadership of President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, that dream is becoming reality.
Leading the transformation on the ground is Hon. Dr. Ben Malunga Phiri, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.
Speaking on Wednesday in Lilongwe during the National Leaders and Stakeholders Conference organized by MACOKASA, Minister Phiri made it clear: Malawi will no longer accept chaos on our roads.
He challenged kabaza operators to borrow a leaf from Rwanda, where discipline and order are non-negotiable.
This is APM’s Malawi Agenda 2063 in action. President Mutharika has always said that development must be safe, inclusive and decent. He told Dr. Phiri: “Make sure every Malawian feels safe using any mode of transport.” And the Minister is delivering exactly that.
“In Malawi, using kabazas feels like an accident already waiting to happen. People use kabazas because they have no choice, and I know nobody feels safe using them,” Dr. Phiri said,adding that,“May we align to Malawi Agenda 2063 on safety, decent work, and inclusive growth, and make Malawi a safe place where death happens because it is time, and not because of recklessness.”
Those are the words of a patriotic leader who listens to the people and acts.
Under President Mutharika’s kind and loving heart, government now envisions a Malawi where mothers, students and workers can board a kabaza without fear.
Dr. Phiri has called on MACOKASA to lead a cooperative agenda where every kabaza operator is registered.
This will help police trace stolen motorcycles and bring order to the sector.
He has also appealed to development partners to provide dedicated kabaza shelters to decongest bus stops.
No more buses and motorcyclists fighting for the same space. This is planning. This is leadership.
The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to work with all stakeholders to transform kabaza from an informal sector into a safe, regulated, and recognized economic engine that creates jobs and serves Malawians better.
This is what happens when you have a visionary President giving direction and a hardworking Minister executing it.
President Mutharika came to save Malawi from disorder and underdevelopment. Dr. Ben Phiri is making sure that salvation reaches the streets, the markets, and the villages.
With APM’s leadership and Ben Phiri’s commitment, Malawi’s kabaza sector will no longer be associated with accidents and chaos. It will be a source of jobs, income, and pride.
The future of transport in Malawi is safe, unified and formalized. And it is happening now.
