In the bustling streets of Blantyre’s Naperi Township, it is not unusual to see taxis weaving through traffic.
But one particular driver, a determined woman with a warm smile and an unshakable spirit, is rewriting the script of what a taxi driver can look like.
Her name is Eda Lowa and her journey from housewife to a respected taxi driver is one of resilience, reinvention and breaking gender barriers.
She said, “I always tell women to never look down on themselves because everyone has a right to do whatever thet can manage.”
Lowa’s story begins in Lilongwe, Area 18, but her home village is in M’deka, Blantyre.
After marriage, she dedicated herself to their home, leaving behind her secretarial job.
But tragedy struck in 2007 when her husband passed away, leaving her with no source of income, but a daughter in Standard Seven.
“As a housewife, I had income, so I had to think fast because my child was still in school and I needed a way to survive,” Lowa said.
She started small, becoming a master of ceremonies (MC) for events, a business that required no capital, but plenty of charisma.
“God blessed me because it worked out. I travelled to places I had never imagined; Mzuzu, Mangochi and Mulanje. That is when I saw my money growing.”
By 2010, she had saved K350 000, an amount she never thought she could hold.
For years, she admired women who drove cars and wondered if she would ever drive one.
“I told one of my relatives about my wish to drive a car. He said the money was enough, so I bought my first car, a Toyota Caleb, even though I did not know how to drive. Someone drove it home for me and I enrolled into a driving school,” she said.
With her weekends booked as an MC, Lowa decided to use her car during the weekdays for another venture since it was not being used.
She began a small restaurant business in Area 25, selling Nsima, Rice and Chips.
The business boomed, keeping her busy from Monday to Friday.
“If I had continued that restaurant, I could have been somewhere big,” she reflects.
But in Lilongwe, her success took a hit. Thieves stole her car and all her money.
With nothing left, she decided to leave the city and return to Mdeka.
Later, she swapped houses with someone in Area 18, moving to Naperi, Blantyre.
She tried cooking again, selling at Kamba Market, but sales were low, sometimes at only K4 000 a day.
“The money was little. It was not working out,” she added.
In 2013, her younger sister lent her a car and Lowa decided to try her hand at driving for hire (taxi).
She found a spot at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital to operate from.
“It is true that most people think taxi business is for men. Even I was shy at first, I remember closing myself in the car to eat because people were talking about me. They said, see that woman she has started taxi driving,” she said.
Her fears were not unfounded. She faced dangerous encounters, including attempted car thefts.
Once, she was attacked in Maoni Township and her phone was stolen.
Another time, passengers lured her to Mulanje and stole her car, though the police later recovered it.
Lowa also faced gender discrimination from potential customers.
“Some people said they cannot be driven by a woman, including women. But I tell them there is no gender in work. A female can do a job you do not expect,” she added.
Despite the challenges, Lowa’s taxi business began to stabilise.
She built a loyal customer base that appreciated her professionalism and determination. Her story became a quiet testament to the fact that resilience pays off.
Her philosophy is simple; start with what you have.
“When I began my business, I had only K6 000. I could have used it to sell muffins, but I chose something I believed I could manage. Begging does not help. Prices have gone up, times have changed and you must adapt,” she said.
Lowa’s proudest achievement is her daughter who went on to earn a master’s degree in China.
“That’s what all the hard work was for,” she said.
Her message to women is clear; self-belief is everything.
She said: “Women or girls should never look down on themselves. Even if you have little, you can start something. Business does not see whether how much capital you have. What matters is the will to start and the discipline to keep going.”
Her advice comes from lived experience. She started as a housewife with no income, became an MC, a car owner and now a taxi driver, defying societal expectations at every turn.
And while the road has been bumpy, she believes every challenge carried a lesson.
“When people refuse to be driven by me because I am woman, I take it as an opportunity to educate them. Gender should never be a barrier to any kind of work,” she said.
Today, Lowa continues to drive her taxi in Blantyre, proud of the life she has built from scratch.
She hopes her story will inspire other women to take control of their futures.
“I want young women to know that life can change at any moment. Do not sit and wait for someone to save you. Start with what you have and trust that God will bless your efforts,” she said.
Her journey from grieving widow to confident taxi driver is proof that resilience, faith and determination can steer anyone toward success.
As she navigates the city streets, it is clear that Lowa is not just driving passengers she is driving a message of empowerment.
At Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital taxi rank, fellow driver Elson Fodya from Manase Township in Blantyre has nothing, but respect for Lowa’s determination.
He believes her presence in the industry is not only refreshing, but necessary.
He said “Every business place needs a female face and competition. We have female doctors working alongside male doctors, so why not female taxi drivers?”
Fodya said Lowa may be the only female taxi driver in the whole of Blantyre a fact that makes her stand out even more.
“We do not look down on her. This woman is civilised and educated. God made a field for everyone to pursue and this is her calling. She is a hard worker,” he added.
“To women who are just staying at home and have cars, do not just keep them parked. People are struggling with transport.
You can wake up in the morning; go to the ranks and work. There is potential which you just have to take,” he said.
