‘There is a need for specific consideration of non-motorised road users to ensure that walking and cycling are promoted as healthy, sustainable, economical and non-polluting means of transport in both rural and urban areas, and that the people of Malawi have the right to walk and cycle in safety.’ Malawi National Transport Policy 2015.
Background
Located in Southern Africa, Malawi is landlocked, sharing its borders with Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. The country has an estimated population of 18.6 million (2019), which is expected to double by 2038 (World Bank, 2019). Road transport remains the major mode of transport in Malawi handling more than 70% of the internal freight traffic and 99% of passenger traffic. (Malawi NTP 2015). Malawi’s roads are used by large numbers of non-motorised users, primarily pedestrians and cyclists, for which little provision is made. Bicycles alone represent between 80% and 90% of wheeled vehicles on tertiary and district roads and 70% of all fatal accidents involve pedestrians or cyclists (Malawi NTP 2015).
Challenges
Due to the increase and rapid expansion of motorisation that has not been matched by corresponding improvements in regulations and standards of infrastructure, road safety poses a major concern in Malawi. The growth in urban population and numbers of vehicles, combined with poor standards of traffic management, is leading to increasing congestion in the major urban centres. There is lack of provision, and maintenance of facilities, for the high proportion of non-motorised transport using both urban and rural roads making Malawi’s road accident statistics amongst the highest in the world with the majority of fatal accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians.
Successes
Malawi’s first Transport Policy was drafted in 1999 and revised in 2004 and again in 2014. Its goal is to ‘ensure the development of a coordinated and efficient transport infrastructure that fosters the safe and competitive operation of viable, affordable, equitable and sustainable transport services.’
The National Transport Policy includes a short chapter on NMT, noting that ‘there is a need for specific consideration of NMT users to ensure that walking and cycling are promoted as healthy, sustainable, economical and non-polluting means of transport in both rural and urban areas, and that the people of Malawi have the right to walk and cycle in safety.’
The following policy statements indicate the direction for NMT planning for Malawi:
- To raise the profile of NMT in planning and programming for transport
- To promote incorporation of facilities for NMT users including women, children, the elderly and disabled
- To promote equality among all road users
- To improve awareness of the social and cultural issues surrounding NMT
- Ensure proper maintenance of the facilities provided.
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