Suleman Chitera 
By Suleman Chitera
Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango has issued a stern warning to lax driving schools and weak regulators, calling for immediate tightening of regulations and rigorous monitoring to ensure only properly trained and competent drivers are allowed on the country’s roads.
Mhango made the remarks after an engagement with leadership and staff at the Road Traffic and Safety Services, where he demanded decisive action to confront what he described as a growing crisis in the road transport sector.
The minister did not mince his words. He said poor training, compromised licensing processes, and weak enforcement are directly contributing to the carnage on the roads, warning that business as usual is no longer acceptable. According to Mhango, driving schools that cut corners and instructors who pass unqualified learners are effectively “signing death warrants” for innocent road users.
He singled out the alarming rise in motorcycle-related accidents, noting that motorcycles now account for a significant share of serious injuries and fatalities. Mhango said many riders are being released onto the roads without adequate training, proper testing, or a clear understanding of traffic laws, turning highways and town roads into danger zones.
“The roads are killing our people because standards are being ignored,” Mhango said, calling on the Directorate to clean up the system, enforce strict compliance, and shut down non-compliant driving schools without fear or favour.
He further urged Road Traffic and Safety Services to strengthen supervision, tighten licensing procedures, and intensify public awareness campaigns, stressing that road safety is not optional but a matter of national urgency.
Mhango warned that if firm measures are not taken now, Malawi risks normalising road deaths as a daily occurrence. He said his ministry expects visible results, adding that accountability will be demanded at every level.
As accidents continue to claim lives across Malawi, the minister’s message is clear: incompetence on the roads will no longer be tolerated, and those entrusted with safeguarding public safety must act — or be held responsible.
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