A nationwide partnership between Beautify Malawi Trust and minibus owners aims to improve hygiene at depots and inside vehicles, while pushing councils to enforce cleanliness bylaws.
NEWS | Public Health | Sanitation | By Watipaso Mzungu
Beautify Malawi Trust (BEAM) has signed a nationwide memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Minibus Owners Association of Malawi (MOAM) aimed at improving sanitation and hygiene at minibus depots and inside vehicles used for public transport.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the First Lady and BEAM patron, Professor Gertrude Mutharika, by BEAM Trust Board Chairperson Dingiswayo Jere.
Speaking after the signing, Jere said the partnership targets Malawi’s biggest mode of public transport, where poor sanitation can pose a public health risk.
“The whole intention is bringing in beauty, improving sanitation and hygiene in the minibus depots as well as in the minibuses themselves, because you could really agree with me that minibuses comprise almost a better chunk of transportation in Malawi,” Jere said.
“If the surroundings where minibuses trade are not good enough, it means we are also promoting diseases. Therefore, the desire is that we need to improve the sanitation facilities and the surroundings where minibuses ply their trade. So that’s why we have got this memorandum of understanding today with MOAM.”
Jere stressed that the agreement is not limited to Lilongwe but covers MOAM members across the country.
“What we have signed today with MOAM is not just encompassing Lilongwe; it is covering all the minibus owners, members that are across the country. Therefore, our desire and our expectation is that what we have signed today shall go across the country,” he said.
“We are going to see improved sanitation in the minibus depots, as well as how to handle litter in the minibuses.”
As part of the initiative, BEAM Trust donated sanitation materials worth K6 million to MOAM, including dustbins, litter bins, rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows and handwashing facilities.
“We have given big dustbins, litter bins, rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, handwashing facilities. This is close to K6 million that is going to be planted in bus depots, as well as make sure that the people that are plying their trade in these minibuses have good handwashing facilities,” Jere said.
Jere also called on local authorities to enact and enforce bylaws aimed at keeping public spaces clean, saying Malawi could learn from neighbouring countries.
“As Beautify Malawi, we have been discussing with Her Excellency how our neighbouring countries are improving in terms of hygiene and sanitation. It means it is because they are able to enforce and police their bylaws,” he said.
“Therefore, we are also looking at how best we can have bylaws that are speaking to our situation. And how could we try to reinforce and police our bylaws?”
Jere said such bylaws must be backed by meaningful penalties for offenders.
“If they are not abiding by those bylaws, there should also be punitive measures as well, so that those that are breaking the bylaws should face the consequences of the law. That is the only way we can change our mindset and improve our surroundings.”
MOAM Secretary General Coxley Kamange described the agreement as a milestone for Malawi’s public transport sector.
“First and foremost, let me take this opportunity to thank Her Excellency Mother, Gertrude Mutharika, the Patron of Beautify Malawi, for coming up with this beautiful initiative. This is a milestone to minibus operators of Malawi and will go a long way,” Kamange said.
He said the partnership would strengthen existing efforts to improve hygiene and sanitation in the sector.
“You know, we’ve been in partnership with BEAM for quite a long time, and this will just strengthen the hygiene and sanitation. As you are aware, 75% of commuters on a daily basis use minibuses. So, if we don’t take care of hygiene issues, that means we will see many patients being admitted or dying because of poor hygiene.”
Kamange urged both minibus operators and passengers to take responsibility for keeping vehicles and their surroundings clean.
“We encourage all minibus operators and all passengers to make sure that whenever they are travelling, they should keep the surroundings clean so that we avoid these diseases,” he said.
The BEAM Trust-MOAM partnership will focus on sanitation infrastructure, awareness among minibus operators and passengers, and stronger enforcement of cleanliness standards at public transport facilities.
BEAM Trust says it will monitor implementation of the MOU and work with local councils to help maintain sanitation standards at major minibus depots across the country.
