By Burnett Munthali
The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) has conducted an awareness session with motorcycle taxi operators, commonly known as kabaza, in Blantyre to educate them on the provisions of the Competition and Fair Trading Act.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, sought to promote fair competition and strengthen consumer protection in the motorcycle taxi industry.
CFTC Director of Competition, Edward Joshua, said the engagement aimed to help operators understand their obligations under the law and the importance of conducting business ethically.
“The idea was to sensitise motorcycle taxi operators so that they are aware of the rights of consumers and understand what the law says,” said Joshua.
He explained that the commission’s role is to ensure that all business transactions are conducted fairly and that no party takes advantage of consumers or competitors.
“As CFTC, we ensure that business is conducted in a manner that promotes fairness and does not compromise competition,” he added.
Joshua noted that some kabaza operators have been engaging in practices that exploit passengers through unfair pricing and discrimination.
He said charging unreasonable fares not only violates consumer rights but also undermines healthy competition among service providers.
“We have observed cases where some operators exploit passengers through inflated prices. As a regulator, we are here to ensure a level playing field while safeguarding consumer rights,” Joshua emphasized.
The CFTC director also highlighted that unethical business conduct can erode public trust and reduce the credibility of the kabaza industry as a whole.
Chairperson for motorcycle taxi operators based at Vanmali House in Blantyre Central Business District, Charles Ndalama, praised CFTC for holding the session.
He described the engagement as an eye-opener that would help operators improve their service delivery and professionalism.
“The meeting was very beneficial because it helped us understand passenger rights and the legal framework governing competition,” said Ndalama.
He further acknowledged that the session clarified several misconceptions operators had about the law and their roles in ensuring fairness within the industry.
“We also learnt that it is wrong to block other operators from working at our ranks,” he added, admitting that such behavior stifles competition and violates fair trade principles.
Ndalama appealed to CFTC to extend similar awareness sessions to other parts of Blantyre and surrounding districts.
He said many motorcycle taxi operators across the city are still unaware of the Competition and Fair Trading Act and may unknowingly engage in practices that breach the law.
During the engagement, CFTC officials explained the commission’s responsibilities and outlined the major provisions of the Act.
They also guided participants on how to lodge complaints with the commission in cases involving unfair business practices or consumer exploitation.
The CFTC team reiterated that the commission remains committed to protecting both consumers and honest business operators by ensuring that market transactions are transparent, fair, and competitive.
As Malawi’s informal transport sector continues to grow, initiatives such as these are seen as essential in promoting responsible entrepreneurship and safeguarding the rights of passengers who depend on kabaza services daily.
