Inspector General (IG) of Police Richard Luhanga has called for a review of laws regulating the motorcycle taxis (kabaza), warning that poor training and weak regulation are fuelling road accidents.
Speaking on Wednesday during the Malawi Police Service (MPS) End of Year Ball at Area 30 Police Headquarters in Lilongwe, he said while kabaza provide affordable transport, their rapid and largely unregulated growth has created a serious road safety threat.
Luhanga said most riders lack proper training and have limited understanding of traffic laws, leading to reckless behaviour on increasingly congested roads.
trained. | Andrew Viano
“Most riders are not properly trained and do not understand traffic laws. As a result, they cause many accidents and often become victims themselves together with their passengers,” he said.
The police chief said the problem requires coordinated action involving Parliament, local councils, road traffic authorities and other stakeholders.
Luhanga also said extended operating hours exposes kabaza riders to criminal attacks, sometimes resulting in murder.
His remarks come amid reports from the Lilongwe Institute of Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery that about 70 percent of patients treated at the facility are victims of kabaza-related accidents.
In an interview, Malawi Coalition of Kabaza Associations chairperson Moses Mwalabu acknowledged the concerns, but urged authorities to prioritise dialogue before enforcement.
“Our members ease mobility challenges for many Malawians. We are ready to engage police and other stakeholders on practical ways to reduce accidents involving kabaza operators,” he said.
Road Safety Alert Foundation executive director Joel Jere said stricter enforcement of existing regulations would significantly reduce accidents.
By early August 2025, only 12 000 motorcycles were registered with the Department of Road Traffic and Safety Services against an estimated two million operators nationwide.
Kabaza operators pay K56 000 to register motorcycles of up to 100cc and K77 000 for those between 101cc and 250cc while riding lessons cost K100 000.
Meanwhile, MPS reported a six percent drop in criminal cases in 2025, with 37 790 cases recorded compared to 40 037 in 2024. Violent crimes such as murder and robbery declined by three percent and nine percent, respectively.
Road accidents also fell by 11 percent, from 3 947 in 2024 to 3 527 in 2025, while deaths dropped from 958 to 931.
However, MPS expressed concern about vandalism of 10 police units by communities, describing the trend as retrogressive.
