Gwengwe takes Motor Bike Taxis initiative to Mzuzu
Minister of Industry and Trade Sosten Gwengwe says People’s Party (PP) Government will continue to pursue direct intervention programmes aimed at empowering the masses to uplift their living standards.
Gwengwe who is also PP’s Presidential Running Mate for the coming May elections was speaking Wednesday at Chibavi Community Ground in Mzuzu during the launch of Motor Bike Taxis initiative.
He said the motor bikes have been given as a direct intervention programme to empower youths in the country.
Gwengwe reiterated that once voted into power, the PP government will transform Malawi from being a poor country to having middle class society.
“PP will create a middle class society as opposed to what is happening now as only few rich people continue to get rich.
“What we want is that people who cannot afford to buy a Hammer (car) should be able to buy a Toyota Corolla,” he said.
The Minister said what Malawi needs to get out of poverty is direct intervention programmes hence the launch of Motor Bikes Taxis to uplift the living standards of the masses.
Gwengwe also said once voted into power, PP government will open an Agriculture Development Bank with the aim of giving loans to farmers to enhance farming.
“What we want is to modernize farming so that even young people should venture into farming,” he said.
Executive Director of Youth Movement (YOMODE) Wyson Sumaili said the motor bikes have been given on loan payable in a period of two years.
“I want to make it clear that the motor bikes have not been given for free but on a revolving fund where beneficiaries would repay the money,” Sumaili said.
Sumaili explained that locally the motorbikes are sold at K1.5 million each but under this scheme, the bikes will be sold to the youth at K300,000 each payable through installments at K12, 500 per month.
According to Gwengwe, the initiative expects to give out 500,000 motorbikes to the youth within the next 10 years. Eventually, the motor bikes are expected to replace the current bicycle taxis.
During the launch, Gwengwe distributed 20 motor bikes to 20 beneficiaries that were identified by the Kabaza Association, a grouping of bicycle taxis operators in the city.
