Extortion syndicates known as Eni Migodi (owners of the mines) continue to prey on minibus, taxi and kabaza operators at transport hubs in Malawi’s four major cities—Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Blantyre and Zomba.
Operators who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals said the groups, often linked to political figures, demand illegal fees for access to taxi ranks, bus depots and terminals. They described the payments as higher than official city charges and enforced without legal authority, creating fear and disorder in the transport sector.
Many operators alleged that the syndicates’ perceived political connections make it difficult to resist. In Blantyre, one minibus operator said those operating from Limbe along the Limbe–Robert Mugabe Highway–Muloza Border Road or Limbe–Thyolo–Muloza routes are charged up to K10 000, while those on Limbe–Chirimba Lunzu routes pay about K2 000 per trip. Routes to Mangochi can attract K20 000 or more.
In Zomba, another operator said extortion occurs at multiple points, including the main bus depot, Kips Restaurant, fuel station ranks and a roadblock at Likangala, where taxi drivers pay at least K2 000 to pass.
Similar reports emerged in Lilongwe, where operators at areas such as CCAP, Bwandilo, Biwi, Area 25 Nsungwi, Kanengo and near Area 3 Police Station said politically connected individuals continue to demand “rank fees”. Some described violent turf wars among the collectors and said the proceeds fund lavish lifestyles.
A kabaza operator said he now avoids certain ranks because he cannot afford the K30 000 demanded.
“That’s too much for me,” he said.
In Mzuzu, a taxi operator said extortion is also entrenched, with drivers along the Mzuzu–Lilongwe route paying the equivalent of one passenger’s fare. He linked the practice to political party “bouncers” and noted it was briefly curbed during the late president Bingu wa Mutharika’s administration before resurfacing.
Blantyre City Council spokesperson Deborah Luka acknowledged the problem, saying some individuals continue to collect money under the guise of migodi. She attributed the difficulty in addressing the issue to political connections, but said Mayor Isaac Jomo Osman is engaging stakeholders to resolve it.
Mzuzu City Council spokesperson McDonald Gondwe confirmed similar activities in his city, where the syndicates are known as Madidy. He said they claim ownership of sections of bus stations and even create designated loading spaces to extract fees from operators.
Gondwe said the council has held meetings with the groups to restore order and is considering further engagement, including partnerships aimed at improving sanitation and organisation at transport hubs. “The goal is to redirect their activities toward more productive roles,” he said, adding that discussions so far have been constructive.
Zomba City Council spokesperson Aubrey Moses, however, denied the existence of migodi in the city.
Efforts to obtain comment from Lilongwe City Council went unanswered for two weeks.
Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa described the practice as a serious human rights concern. He said the forced payments amount to informal extortion and exploitation of already vulnerable workers.
“This undermines the right to earn a livelihood with dignity,” he said, noting that operators often work under harsh economic conditions and cannot afford additional illegal fees. He added that intimidation and violence are sometimes used to enforce payments, violating workers’ rights to safety and protection.
Kaiyatsa criticised both the Malawi Police Service and city councils for failing to dismantle the syndicates. “When such groups operate openly for years, it raises questions about whether authorities have the political will to end them,” he said.
He recommended that councils reclaim full control of transport hubs, formalise and transparently manage all fees, and ensure that anyone involved in extortion, violence or harassment is arrested and prosecuted.
Human rights activist Maxwell Mkwezalamba also linked the problem to weak council systems, saying poor governance at city level fuels lawlessness and abuse. He suggested recruiting trained marshals to manage bus terminals and restore order.
