By Isaac Jim & Benedicto Maguda

Blantyre, October 11, Mana: Malawi Coalition for Kabaza Stakeholders Association (MACOKASA) is conducting Kabaza awareness campaign on road safety following frequent road accidents in which motorcycle taxi operators are involved in.

MACOKASA initiative comes after Malawi Orthopedic Association (MOA) concluded similar awareness campaign for Kabaza safety on September 18 in Blantyre.

Speaking at Makheta Township in Blantyre on Thursday, MACOKASA, National Chairperson, Moses Michael Mwalabo said the association was compelled to organize the awareness campaign following frequent road accidents which are caused by motorcycle taxi operators.

“We felt the need to do this activity. As National Association for Kabaza, we have witnessed a lot of road accidents that were mostly caused by kabaza people,

“We also wanted to remind the Kabaza people the importance of following road safety rules and regulations like; carrying one passenger, wearing crash helmets, reflectors and safety shoes other than sandals or slippers,” he added

MACOKASA also assured motorcycle taxi operators that the organization was still engaging government to reduce registration fees and to provide trainings across the country for the kabaza operators.

“Government has given us four to six months to do registration of motorbikes and when this period ends, registration fee will go back to where it was. For example, Lifan motorcycles will be registered with K55,000 while larger motorbikes will be registered with K77,000 so that every operator should register,

“In conjunction with the Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services, we have agreed to work hand in hand with driving schools to help us in providing driving and road safety rules and training so that at the end of the day we should reduce the number of road accidents happening in the country,” Mwalabo added.

On her part, Regional Community Policing Coordinator for the South West Region Police, Superintendent, Memory Mgeni, said was happy with MACOKASA’s initiative and expressed hope that the awareness campaign will help to remind Kabaza operators about traffic rules and regulations to protect their lives, passengers and other road users’ lives.

“We felt it was important to help MACOKASA in raising awareness on traffic rules and regulations considering high rate of road accidents that are mostly caused by Kabaza operators,” she added.

The police also reminded the motor bicycle taxi operators to avoid operating at night, saying operating at odd hours put their life at risk of being attacked by robbers that pretends to be bonafide passengers.

“Investigations are showing that some Kabaza operators are fond of doing business during odd hours which leads to theft of their motor bicycles, sustaining severe injuries and even loss of life. They are enticed with huge sums of money to carry a person at odd hours not knowing that the person is a criminal,” Mgeni said

Kabaza Association, Chairperson in Blantyre, Kondwani Jimu also hailed MACOKASA and the police in the South West Region for raising the awareness among the motor bicycle taxi operators.

He said this was timely as motorcycle taxi operators contribute to road accidents at an alarming rate.

“We are very happy with this initiative, and it is encouraging that MACOKASA has taken a big step in reducing road accidents. The awareness will make kabaza motorcyclists realise they have a responsibility to prevent and reduce road accidents.

“I have witnessed some serious road accidents happening and visited injured people at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital who are still in pain while some reached a point when doctors decide to amputate their legs. Some broke their spinal cord, meaning that they can no longer do things on their own,” he said.

MACOKASA signed an agreement with all the cities and district councils in the country to limit areas where motor bicycle taxi operators should not operate as a measure to reduce motor bicycle accidents.