Malawi government hikes traffic penalties, fees
At a time when other governments are slashing prices of essential services as well as providing remedies like paying citizens, the Malawi government is doing the opposite as tough times await motorists with the Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS) adjusting upwards fees and penalties for road traffic services and offences.
The road traffick offences fines hiked by over 100% come at a time when schools have closed meaning parents spent savings on transport and extra home budget.
The decision also comes at a time when most employees and business people have gone into voluntary quarantine translating into less income.
However, government announced Friday it had hiked the fines with no remorse or any sense of empathy to delay the announcement until after the Coronavirus scare is over.
The adjustemet also comes after Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) introduced carbon tax to be collected on behalf of government as motorists renew their vehicle certificate of fitness (CoF).
The new fines for the traffic offences are as follows; driving with expired insurance K50 000 driving with expired CoF K30,000.
Fine for failure to carry a driver’s or learner’s licence or professional driving permit, which was initially at K5 000, has been adjusted to K25 000.
The fine for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol with above 0.2gramme/210mm breath is now pegged at minimum fine of K30 000 up to K200 000 or a three-year jail term. The drivers will also be suspended from driving for a year.
Motorists who have no certificate of insurance on a vehicle with a capacity of more than 16 passengers but less than 32 would have been paying K500 000 from the current K200 000.
The new fees and fines followed government notices number 75 and 76; Road Traffic Act (CAP.69.01) Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 and Road Traffic Act (CAP.69.01) Road Traffic (Prescribed Offences and Penalties) (Amendment) Regulations 2019, respectively.
I know ma polisi embili khobidi likatalikila , azimai akasowa lapakhomo,young police women akasowa la ku saloon olo lokapangila ma geni, this os what they do and say, ndokangoima pa nseu.
no wonder you see 3 blocks of them within a distance of 3 km. check this. and kuima pa corner kapena pa phili. IDIOTS, do not be disturbed if one day you will be dealt with and everyone will stop the SCAM.
Now, they want to destroy the transport business! Apart from higher rates for pulic transport, for goods and service transfers moving on our roads, this will not help this existing government and their allies MPS and DRTSS to survive politicaly and will help economically anyway not! It will fatten only this corrupt law enforcing officers and their masters! Open your eyes and see how this dudes have enriched themself under this current administration. We need a change, sanity and someone who clear out the swamp!
this is total madness
I think let us involve Tim mtambo. drivers plse let’s come together and go on strike,because I don’t see drivers affording these ridiculous fines
Honestly this is hell on Earth.I will always regret and curse myself for being born a Malawian
This mess is going to send many of to us to an early grave.honestly people are pulling very hard just to earn a living.
Traffic hikes carbon tax corona virus
Mxiii How I wish that all this that I’m hearing is just one of those many wild dreams I do come across
God save Malawi
The problem is not Malamulo but people from traffic police too much kunyemeredwa. If they can keep these laws without corruption Malawi will be the best country ever. Koma chinyengo too much. The money for penalties can help Malawi in many cases. Kumanso Malamulo azikomera tonse osamati poti awa ndi abigy!
To say the truth izizi sizimapindulira boma koma zimangolemeletsa a traffic basi
Kufuna a CHISI ndi anzawo apitilire kulemera. Mbabva as ku road traffic.
Anthu opanda Nzeru nonse amene mukususana ndi malamulu amenewa.
(1) Driver aledzere adzikayendetsa
Mini-bus.
(2) Driver adzikayendetsa mini-bus ya
Matayala akutha.
Kunguzolowera kusutsa Basi bcz DPP is power
Samalani miyoyo yanu ndi abale anu
This is happening at a time UK and US govts are contributing to employees’ salaries to ensure people dont lose their jobs due to the lockdown. KuMalawi the govt wants to milk people. shame
My son just joined the traffic police. ……I am already smiling……
Too many road blocks, and too many traffic officers idling on road sides harrassing road users.
Just pay them enough, and stop the nonsense of road blocks every few kilometers.
Really embarrassing. Explains what sort of a country and a society we are.
Total madness,