Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda) is a rapidly growing business in most de-veloping countries, particularly sub-Saharan African countries. In recent decades, the statistics of youth employment in Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda) is almost doubling every year. Contrary to the reported growth and success of this business, the Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda) business has impacted negatively the communities. Reports in most cities and towns in the developing countries indicate that there is a serious increase in accidents involving motorcycle taxis. Urban Insecurity, pollution and traffic is another problem in developing countries’ communities associated with Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda) business. The findings have identified the negative impacts of Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda) business in developing countries’ communities relating it to poverty cycle existing in the communities. 200 Boda-Boda riders and 200 Boda-Boda users were purposively chosen to gather primary data, secondary data were collected through internet sources, government reports and other Boda-Boda related materials and documents. SSPS and Excel were used to analyse data. The study has found out that, a Motorcycle taxi (Boda-Boda) user in ten years has more than 90% chance to sustain injury or lose life. Though users and riders have positive attitude on Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda), still more than 80% of them are aware of the risks associated with them. Primary data with the support of secondary data provide insights that it is difficult to say that the business is contributing to economic growth, instead of poverty cycle from unemployment to pure disabled dependent or from jobless father or mother to orphans’ dependents. The government should intervene in Motorcycle taxis (Boda-Boda) business which erodes country’s manpower, resources and the economy at large.
Cite this paper
Mbegu, S. and Mjema, J. (2019). Poverty Cycle with Motorcycle Taxis (Boda-Boda) Business in Developing Countries: Evidence from Mbeya—Tanzania. Open Access Library Journal, 6, e5617. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1105617.
Mutiso, W. and Behrens, R. (2011) “BodaBoda” Bicycle Taxis and Their Role in Urban Transport Systems: Case Studies of Kisumu and Nakura, Kenya. http://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/17308
Olvera, L.D., Plat, D., Pochet, P. and Maidadi, S. (2012) Motorbike Taxis in the “Transport Crisis” of West and Central African Cities. EchoGéo, 20, 1-18.
https://doi.org/10.4000/echogeo.13080
De Vreyer, P. and Roubaud, F. (2013) Urban Labor Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. World Bank Publications, Washington DC. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-0-8213-9781-7
Lawrence, N.N. (2012) The Socio-Cultural Impact of the Introduction of Motorbike Taxis in the Rural Community of Tombel, South West Region, Cameroon. Master Thesis, Université de Yaoundé, Yaoundé.
Howe, J. (2001) BodaBoda-Uganda’s Rural and Urban Low-Capacity Transport Services. Unpublished DFID Funded Research Project. Makerere University, Kampa-la.
Mahlstein, M. (2009) Shaping and Being Shaped: The Regulation of Commercial Motorcycle Operation and Social Change in Calabar, Nigeria. MA Thesis, University of Basel, Basel.
Rizzo, M. (2011) The Struggles of Informal Transport Workers in Tanzania: Debunking the Myth of Micro Solutions. Development Viewpoint No. 68, 2. http://www.soas.ac.uk/cdpr/publications/dv/dv68.html
Goodfellow, T. and Titeca, K. (2012) Presidential Intervention and the Changing “Politics of Survival” in Kampala’s Informal Economy. Cities, 29, 264-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2012.02.004
Dudovskiy, J. (2018) The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dissertation in Business Studies: A Step-by-Step Assis-tance. https://research-methodology.net/about-us/ebook
Satar, R., Mohammad, A., Behzad, K. and Ali, S. (2014) Consequences and Economic Burden of Road Traffic Crashes in Iran. Journal of Injury and Violence Research, 6, 57-63. https://doi.org/10.5249/jivr.v6i2.191
Mock, C.N., Abatanga, F. and Koepsell, T.D. (1999) Incidence and Outcome of Injury in Ghana: A Community Based Survey. The Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 77, 955-964.
Krug, E.G., Sharma, G.K. and Lozano, R. (2000) The Global Burden of Injuries. American Journal of Public Health, 90, 523-526. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.90.4.523
Smith, G.S. and Barss, P. (1991) Unintentional Injuries in Developing Countries; the Epidemiology of a Neglected Problem. Epidemiologic Reviews, 13, 228-266. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.epirev.a036070
