This morning, my friend Zai Gwaza appreciated my earlier article, and that nudge got me thinking—again. So here we are, diving into yet another frustrating yet painfully obvious economic trap: the vicious cycle we’ve built by prioritizing traders over producers.
Every morning, as I drive from Area 46—Lilongwe’s newest suburb—I see a familiar scene. A swarm of Kabaza motorcycles zipping past, their cargo carefully strapped on: crates of drinks from Zambia and Mozambique, en route to local traders. These traders thrive on the efficiency and low fares of these motorbike couriers, ensuring a steady flow of imported goods into our cities. And what’s most fascinating? These Kabaza riders cruise through roadblocks like VIP convoys—barely stopped, barely questioned. Ever wonder why?
Meanwhile, the Malawian producer—the guy who actually wants to manufacture something—faces an uphill battle. Need to import machinery? Brace yourself for exorbitant taxes. Finally manage to set up shop? Good luck competing with traders who flood the market with cheaper, tax-free imports from neighboring countries. The irony is painful: the one person who could help us earn forex is crippled, while the one depleting forex is left to thrive. And somehow, we justify it.
“He can afford a machine, so he must be rich—let him pay the taxes.”
“That trader? He’s just trying to feed his family—let him trade freely.”
This logic is precisely why we’re in an economic nosedive. Today, the vendors have won their battle. But at what cost? The forex they’ve just secured might have been the last bit a textile ginner needed to revive local clothing production. Or worse, forex meant for fuel. We are, quite literally, trading our industrial future for bales of discarded goods and crates of foreign drinks.
Our problems aren’t about political parties; they’re about choices—choices that have compounded over time into an economic cancer. If we don’t start making deliberate, strategic decisions to rebuild our industries, we’ll keep waking up to the same crisis, packaged in different headlines.
I look forward to the day we get it right. But at this rate, I might need a Kabaza ride to see it happen in my lifetime.
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