Kazi the Podcast E09: Dar es Salaam on Wheels: Gender and Labor in the Bodaboda Sector

Dar es Salaam inayosonga: Jinsia na Kazi katika Sekta ya Bodaboda 

Teksi za pikipiki, zinazojulikana maarufu kama bodaboda, zimekuwa uti wa mgongo wa usafiri katika majiji ya Tanzania. Jijini Dar es Salaam, sekta ya bodaboda  imekuwa ni alama ya ustahimilivu wa vijana, kujikimu kiuchumi, na mabadiliko ya hali ya majiji.

Tangu mwanzoni mwa miaka ya 2000, sekta ya bodaboda imekua na kuwa moja ya vyanzo vikubwa vya ajira kwa vijana nchini Tanzania. Utafiti wa mwaka 2022 unakadiria kuwa kati ya vijana milioni 1.1 na 1.3 wameajiriwa katika biashara hiyo, idadi inayoshindana na ajira katika kilimo na serikali.

Kwa madereva wengi, hasa wale wanaomiliki pikipiki zao, kazi hii ina faida. Jijini Dar es Salaam, mapato ghafi ya kila siku mara nyingi huanzia shilingi 40,000, huku mapato baada ya kutoa matumizi ya siku yakitajwa kufikia kati ya shilingi 5,000 na shilingi 25,000 baada ya gharama. Sekta hii isiyo rasmi ya usafirishaji inakadiriwa kuchangia hadi asilimia 20 ya Pato la Taifa (GDP) la Tanzania, jambo linalosisitiza umuhimu wake kiuchumi.

Maoni kutoka kwa Waandishi

Katika kipindi hiki cha Kazi the Podcast, tulizungumza na waandishi wawili wa ripoti ya Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES):

Michaela Collord, Mhadhiri Mwandamizi katika Chuo Kikuu cha Nottingham nchini Uingerea, anaeleza jinsi madereva wa bodaboda wanavyoishi katika mkanganyiko wa sekta isiyo rasmi. Ingawa wanatengeneza kipato kikubwa, bado wametengwa katika ulinzi wa kazi na mifumo ya kiserikali. Anasisitiza umuhimu wa udhibiti jumuishi unaoshughulikia vitendo vya unyonyaji vinavyofanywa na mifumo ya kifedha ya mikopo na programu za usafiri.

Nice Amon Mwansasu, Mratibu katika Chama cha Wafanyakazi wa Mawasiliano na Uchukuzi Tanzania (COTWU-T), anatupa uzoefu wake wa kufanya kazi moja kwa moja na makundi ya vijana. Anasisitiza kuwa madereva wa bodaboda mara nyingi hawaeleweki na watunga sera, ambao wanawachukulia kama watu wenye fujo badala ya wafanyakazi wanaopambania maisha endelevu. Kwa Nice, kufanya kazi na madereva bodaboda kwa ngazi ya chini ni muhimu ili kuhakikisha madereva wana sauti katika kuunda mustakabali wao.

Kwa pamoja, Michaela na Nice walisisitiza kuwa uendelevu kwa madereva wa bodaboda unamaanisha zaidi ya mapato; unamaanisha utu, usalama, na kutambuliwa kama wafanyakazi.

Changamoto za Kijinsia na Usawa

Licha ya umuhimu wake, sekta ya bodaboda bado inatawaliwa na wanaume kwa kiasi kikubwa. Wanawake wanakabiliwa na vikwazo vingi, kuanzia unyanyapaa wa kijamii hadi hatari kubwa za ukatili wa kijinsia wanapofanya kazi. Watetezi wanahoji kuwa kushughulikia ukosefu huu wa usawa wa kimuundo ni muhimu kwa ajili ya kujenga maisha jumuishi na yenye usawa.

Hali Halisi ya Kazi

Madereva wa bodaboda mara nyingi hufanya kazi katika mazingira magumu, muda mrefu wa kazi, ukosefu wa uhakika wa mapato, na upatikanaji mdogo wa mikopo. Harakati za uchechemuzi kutoka ngazi ya chini, unaoongozwa na vyama kama Chama cha Wafanyakazi wa Mawasiliano na Uchukuzi Tanzania (COTWU-T), unawasaidia waendesha bodaboda kushinikiza kutambuliwa na kupata ulinzi bora. Hata hivyo, kuunganisha mipango hii isiyo rasmi katika sera rasmi bado ni changamoto.

Udhibiti na Mageuzi

Ripoti ya FES imebainisha kuwa majaribio ya udhibiti wa sekta hii yamekuwa ya msimu, yakichochewa na mazingira ya kisiasa ndani ya sekta ya usafirishaji. Wakati huo huo, majukwaa ya kifedha (mikopo) na programu za usafiri zinabadilisha sura ya ajira, zikitoa fursa mpya lakini pia zikiongeza hali ya kutokuwa na uhakika. Wataalamu wanahoji kuwa mbinu shirikishi kutokea ngazi ya chini, ambapo madereva wenyewe wanasaidia kuunda sera, ndiyo ufunguo wa mageuzi endelevu.

Kutazama Mbele

Mustakabali wa mfumo wa usafiri wa Tanzania unategemea kutambua sekta isiyo rasmi kama bodaboda kuwa kiungo muhimu cha usafiri. Sera nzuri ya usafiri lazima izingatie usalama, uendelevu, na ujumuishaji, huku ikihakikisha kuwa madereva—wanaume kwa wanawake—wanachukuliwa kama wachangiaji muhimu wa uchumi.

Mambo Muhimu ya Kuzingatia kutoka kwenye majadiliano:

• Madereva wa bodaboda ni miongoni mwa waajiri wakubwa wa vijana nchini Tanzania.
• Sekta hii inachangia kiasi kikubwa katika uchumi wa taifa lakini bado si rasmi na ina mazingira magumu.
• Usawa wa kijinsia ni changamoto kubwa, huku wanawake wakikabiliwa na kutengwa na hatari mbalimbali.
• Mageuzi endelevu yanahitaji mipango jumuishi, udhibiti wa haki, na ushiriki wa ngazi ya chini.

Kwa taarifa ya kina, pitia ripoti kamili ya Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) kuhusu maisha ya bodaboda, tembelea tanzania.fes.de/publications.

Motorcycle taxis, popularly known as bodaboda, have become the lifeblood of Tanzania’s cities. In Dar es Salaam, they are more than just a transport option; they are a symbol of youth resilience, economic survival, and urban transformation.

Since their widespread licensing in the early 2000s, bodabodas have grown into one of the largest sources of youth employment in Tanzania. A 2022 study estimates that between 1.1 and 1.3 million young people are engaged in the business nationwide, numbers that rival employment in agriculture and government services.

For many riders, especially owner-operators, the work is profitable. In Dar es Salaam, gross daily earnings often start at TZS 40,000, with net take-home pay ranging between TZS 5,000 and TZS 25,000 after expenses. The informal transport sector is estimated to contribute up to 20% of Tanzania’s GDP, underscoring its economic significance.

Insights from the Authors

In this episode of Kazi the Podcast, we spoke with two co-authors of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) report:

Michaela Collord, Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham, highlighted how bodaboda drivers embody the contradictions of informality. While they generate significant income, they remain excluded from labor protections and policy frameworks. She emphasized the need for inclusive regulation that addresses exploitative practices by asset-finance and ride-hailing platforms.

Nice Amon Mwansasu, Organizer at the Communication and Transport Workers Union of Tanzania (COTWU-T), shared his experience working directly with youth labor groups. He stressed that bodaboda drivers are often misunderstood by policymakers, who see them as chaotic rather than as workers striving for sustainable livelihoods. For Nice, grassroots organizing is essential to ensure drivers have a voice in shaping their future.

Together, Michaela and Nice underscored that sustainability for bodaboda drivers means more than income, it means dignity, safety, and recognition as workers.

Gender and Equity Challenges

Despite its vitality, the bodaboda industry remains overwhelmingly male-dominated. Women face steep barriers, from social stigma to heightened risks of gender-based violence in public spaces. Advocates argue that addressing these structural inequalities is essential for building inclusive and equitable livelihoods.

Labor Realities and Organizing

Bodaboda drivers often work under precarious conditions—long hours, income insecurity, and limited access to financing. Grassroots organizing, led by unions such as the Communication and Transport Workers Union of Tanzania (COTWU-T), is helping riders push for recognition and better protections. Yet, integrating these informal initiatives into formal policy remains a challenge.

Regulation and Reform

Attempts to regulate the sector have been episodic, shaped by political cycles and fragmented governance. Meanwhile, fintech platforms and ride-hailing apps are reshaping the labor landscape, offering new opportunities but also deepening precarity. Experts argue that a participatory, bottom-up approach, where drivers themselves help shape policy, is key to sustainable reform.

Looking Ahead

The future of Tanzania’s transport system depends on recognizing informal mobility solutions like bodaboda as central to urban life. A comprehensive transport policy must balance safety, sustainability, and inclusion, while ensuring that drivers—both men and women—are treated as vital contributors to the economy.

Key Takeaways from the discussion:

• Bodaboda drivers are among Tanzania’s largest youth employers.
• The sector contributes significantly to the national economy but remains informal and precarious.
• Gender equity is a pressing challenge, with women facing exclusion and risks.
• Sustainable reform requires inclusive planning, fair regulation, and grassroots participation.

For deeper insights, explore the full Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) report on bodaboda livelihoods at Tanzania.fes.de/publications.