I must admit last week’s Kabazas impunity has the backing of police entry received overwhelming responses; positively and negatively. This enigma is evidently a menace to many people who have been suffering in silence. I may have stepped on some people’s toes, but the truth hurts.
On Monday National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya told The Nation newspaper that the Malawi Police Service has recorded a 14 percent increase in road accidents involving kabazas in the first quarter of 2025 with a total of 227 cases compared to 200 accidents in the first quarter of 2024. He said fatality cases have decreased in the of 2025 to 21 compared to 27 deaths in the same period last year. Kalaya attributed the increase in road accidents by kabazas to lack of knowledge on road safety rules as most operators are not trained riders and lack license.
Come on Mr. Kalaya, this is practically admitting inefficiency. The increase in accidents should have jolted the police to serious action, in my view, rather than simply to parade statistics. We do appreciate recording of figures, but please give up much more. Motorists can never claim ignorance to get way with a penalty. Why then are these other road users getting away with this abomination? The onus to learn road rules and regulations lies solely on the driver through the necessary training before being allowed to use our roads. It is baffling how motorcycle riders have been allowed shortcuts and illegality of riding on the roads even tax free. Who is sleeping on the job here to know about the crime and still decide to sweep it under the carpet? And what has been done, after blatantly admitting to their illegality?
Look, even Malawi Coalition for Kabaza Stakeholders Association national chairperson Moses Mwalabu attributes the continued trend of breaking road safety rules among kabaza operators to inadequate enforcement, where he believes some law enforcers may not be doing their job effectively due to various factors, including “the connection between kabaza operations and upcoming election. And kabaza is political in nature and many politicians use kabaza for their political mileage.”
I rest my case. We have a problem on our hands and the leadership is turning a blind eye. Otherwise, the impunity should have been halted. And until then, we will continue watching kabazas overtake on the left even after a car ahead has indicated to turn in the same direction, causing the turmoil that has been normalised. We will watch as they race with vehicleS on the road and ignore intersections at the bewilderment of observers. We will watch as they carry passengers atop goods, elevating them to scary heights that would instantly kill them at the slightest of bumps. We will watch as they squeeze themselves on gas tanks to pave way for charcoal bags or sugarcane bundles as they freely wave at police officers at road blocks. The spectacle is mesmerising.
Check out this video https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18u4jPcugu/, courtesy of my colleague Jonathan Pasungwi filmed along the M1 road in Dedza.
