Poverty Cycle with Motorcycle Taxis (Boda-Boda) Business in Developing Countries: Evidence from Mbeya—Tanzania

Abstract

Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda) is a rapidly growing business in most developing countries, particularly sub-Saharan African countries. In recent decades, the statistics of youth employment in Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda) is almost doubling every year. Contrary to the reported growth and success of this business, the Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda) business has impacted negatively the communities. Reports in most cities and towns in the developing countries indicate that there is a serious increase in accidents involving motorcycle taxis. Urban Insecurity, pollution and traffic is another problem in developing countries' communities associated with Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda) business. The findings have identified the negative impacts of Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda) business in developing countries' communities relating it to poverty cycle existing in the communities. 200 Boda-Boda riders and 200 Boda-Boda users were purposively chosen to gather primary data, secondary data were collected through internet sources, government reports and other Boda-Boda related materials and documents. SSPS and Excel were used to analyse data. The study has found out that, a Motorcycle taxi (Boda-Boda) user in ten years has more than 90% chance to sustain injury or lose life. Though users and riders have positive attitude on Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda), still more than 80% of them are aware of the risks associated with them. Primary data with the support of secondary data provide insights that it is difficult to say that the business is contributing to economic growth, instead of poverty cycle from unemployment to pure disabled dependent or from jobless father or mother to orphans' dependents. The government should intervene in Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda) business which erodes country's manpower, resources and the economy at large.

Is there a relationship between the use of motorcycles and the level of development of countries?

“…Estimates show that the adoption of motorcycles by the population is highly related to the level of development in countries, where factors that stimulate an improvement in quality of life (those related to both income and reduced inequality within the country) can collaborate to reduce the use of this means of transportation. In general, these results converge with those presented by Nkede Njie (2012); Karema et al (2017) and Mbegu and Mjema (2019) indicating a positive relationship between motorcycle use and social well-being. However, this relationship follows a function in the form of an inverse U, similar to the function estimated by Nishitateno et al (2014) when portraying the relationship between motorcycle use rate and countries' GDP.…”

“…Karema et al (2017), examining the contribution of commercial motorcycles in poverty alleviation in Laikipia East Sub-County, Kenya, found that the commercial motorcycle contributes 10% towards poverty alleviation, and that key activities that arose as a result of commercial motorcycle ridership generated gainful employment. Mbegu and Mjema (2019), in their analysis "Poverty Cycle with Motorcycle Taxis Business in Developing Countries: Evidence from Mbeya-Tanzania" concluded that, contrary to the reported growth and success of this business, the motorcycle taxi business has negatively impacted communities. In most cities and towns there is a serious increase in accidents involving motorcycle taxis.…”

Urban crime and livelihood implications among the motorcycle taxi riders in Dar Es Salaam City- Tanzania

“…Named as 'bodaboda' in East Africa and 'okada' in Nigeria, Motorcycle Taxis in SSA and Tanzania in particular has been expanding annually. It has, moreover, been associated to employing a number of youths mainly due to rapid urbanisation and alarming unemployment situation (Mbegu & Mjema, 2019;Tacoli, 2017;Avis, 2016). Indeed, in 2017 Motorcyle taxi transportation trade in Africa was estimated to cross $9 billion by 2022. time of ferrying people, goods and services from one part of the city to another (The Citizen, 2013, August 17).…”

Social Protection and Informal Workers in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…Amidst such high levels of risks, the majority have no access to social health insurance. Often, informal transportation workers are the main family breadwinners, and their deaths and lifetime injuries can be a cause of poverty for the family (Mbegu & Mjema, 2019).…”