Abstract

Job creation has resurfaced on the sustainable development agenda. However, for developing countries like Malawi this is a big challenge and has led to people especially those with no formal qualifications in urban areas seeking informal innovative ways to earn a livelihood. Such strategies include operating a bicycle taxi enterprise, locally known as Kabaza. This has also become an easy trade to venture in considering the increasing demand for urban transport services. There have been calls to organize and regulate the business considering chaotic scenarios in some cities like Mzuzu. Some districts have put institutions to regulate the enterprise while others have not. The study generally sought to understand the effect of institutions on Kabaza operators’ livelihoods in Zomba and Mangochi districts. Specifically the study aimed to identify the institutions governing Kabaza, understand whether institutions on entry and exit have an effect on the maximization of livelihood outcomes, establish whether formal and informal institutions would affect livelihood maximization from Kabaza operators in the same way and to analyse how challenges in the Kabaza industry affect the development of their enterprises. The study used a mixed methods approach to collect data; 128 questionnaires were administered to Kabaza operators, 2 key informant interviews were done with Town Council officials and 2 in-depth interviews with rank chairpersons in Mangochi and Zomba. The study found that there are formal regulations to do with space, monthly tax, registration and road user requirements in Mangochi and informal ones to do with space in Zomba and the formal institutions are affecting the livelihoods of Kabaza operators and safety track record to a limited extent. It also highlighted that even the formal institutions are not doing better at facilitating the thriving of Kabaza operator’s livelihood because they are not enforced. The study also found that Kabaza operators are facing challenges to do with, infrastructure, customer default, attacks, HIV/AIDS risk and robbery.

More details

School	: School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Issued Date	: 2017

Download full document