A steady income for young Zambians

 

By Derrick Silimina

Affordable Chinese-made motorcycles are changing how Zambians work and move. They enable many young people to find work as couriers or in repair shops amid a labor market that offers few alternatives.

Amid the hustle and bustle of Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, a swarm of small, swift and brightly colored Chinese-made motorcycles has become a familiar sight. Over the past months and years, they have become the primary transport and delivery means in a city where jobs are scarce and opportunities limited. 

“Working in the courier business is a dream come true. With my bike, I can now earn more than twice what I used to make as a driver in the industrial area,” 34-year-old Chileshe says as he kicks the starter and the engine rumbles to life with a satisfying growl.

Chileshe’s red Xianfeng motorcycle isn’t just a workhorse, he says, but his lifeline as most Chinese-made brands such as Haojue and Lifan are known for their reliability, affordability, their fuel efficiency and ease of maintenance. 

The young man began working as a delivery rider two years ago when he finally managed to purchase a Chinese motorcycle. Since then, he has successfully leveraged this opportunity to improve his livelihood. 

“Now, I have flexible working hours and a steady income, which not only enhances my economic stability but also gives me a sense of purpose and well-being,” he says. “Now I can even set aside some savings.”

A steady income amid unemployment

Chileshe’s story is one of many. Lots of young people in Zambia have found a new way to greater prosperity with the low-budget motorbikes. The Chinese-made vehicles provide them with job opportunities via courier platforms amid high unemployment. 

Young riders earn income through delivering various goods such as food, flowers, household appliances and parcels and receive payment for each delivery. 

Speaking to them on the streets often yields the same response: they no longer struggle to look for another job and are happy to earn a living via a courier business, enabling them to pay rent and provide food for their family.

Interestingly, the influx of Chinese-made motorbikes has also led to an increased skills transfer among young motorbike repairers and spare-parts dealers in the southern African country, says Joel Phiri. 

The young and aspiring motorcycle mechanic recently recognised the abundant availability of motorbike spare parts, particularly from Chinese manufacturers that allow for easy maintenance and customisation. 

It inspired him to establish a motorcycle-based garage along Lusaka’s Lumumba Road, the city’s important commercial and transport corridor, to make a living from the growing demand for motorcycle repairs and modifications in the city. 

“Actually, I no longer worry about the high cost of living in Lusaka. I make a stable daily income as the demand for bike repairs is really high,” says Phiri.

Local hopes amid growing Chinese exports

As Chinese investment in motorcycle production and assembly plants is growing across Africa, including Zambia, Phiri hopes that some of these investments promote greater local production and create further employment opportunities. 

Yet, most of the motorbikes are being exported from China to African countries. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Zonsen Motorcycle exported over 130,000 motorcycles worth nearly $ 90 million, said International Department Manager Zhou Chun in a China Daily article. “Africa is one of our most important overseas markets,” he added.

Phiri’s expectations do not seem too far-fetched. A delegation from a Chinese company recently expressed interest in establishing a motorcycle assembly plant in Zambia’s Kapiri Mposhi district, an important transport and logistics hub located at the intersection of two major railway lines. 

Officials have welcomed the investors and expressed hopes that the plant will create employment opportunities for local residents as well as revenues for local authorities that could be used to fund public services and infrastructure projects.

A Transformative Masterpiece

By Derrick Silimina

In the Kigongo area of Mwanza Region, northwest Tanzania, fishmonger Neema Aisha remembers how the morning’s fresh catch would sour while she queued for the ferry, putting her business at risk. 

“I struggled daily with fish spoiling in the harsh sun and the moisture from melting ice, which posed a constant threat to my livelihood,” Aisha told ChinAfrica. 

But today, as Aisha steers her pickup across the Chinese-built Magufuli Bridge which connects Kigongo (in the Mwanza Region) and Busisi (in the Geita Region), a cool breeze and the steady hum of traffic set a soothing tone for her morning.  

Aisha now benefits from insulated containers that keep her fish fresh during transit, ensuring they arrive at the market in Sengerema District still glistening and of high quality. The bridge has significantly shortened her travel time and provided her with a sense of security and control over her business operations. 

“My fish stock now arrives fresh and timely. This has significantly reduced the stress and losses associated with goods getting stuck in ferry queues or delays, thereby improving my clients’ satisfaction and reliability of supply.” 

Baba Juma, a coffee vendor in Busisi Town, shares the sentiment. He once spent his mornings anxiously watching the aroma of freshly roasted beans fade as he waited in the ferry queue. 

“As the sun climbed, my profits dropped. But today, my mornings are different! I feel the cool grip of the steering wheel and hear the confident hum of my engine as I glide onto the bridge,” Juma told ChinAfrica. 

“I no longer feel the frustration of wasted time,” he said. “Instead, there’s a calm, focused energy, knowing my business moves as fast as the traffic on this majestic new structure.” 

Before the bridge, ferry delays caused operational inefficiencies and economic losses for entrepreneurs, a consequence of inadequate infrastructure. What was once a vast expanse of shimmering water now thrums with twin white towers piercing the Tanzanian sky like sentinels. 

But for entrepreneurs in Mwanza district, the Magufuli Bridge (also known as the Kigongo-Busisi Bridge) is more than a colossal ribbon of steel and concrete. It is a tangible symbol of opportunity, turning the city’s daily struggles into tangible success. 

  

Connectivity dividends 

Across Lake Victoria, the Magufuli Bridge marks a milestone in Tanzania’s infrastructure development. At 4.66 km long, with a 520-metre extradosed cable-stayed span, it holds the title of Africa’s longest bridge of its kind. 

Built as a four-lane dual carriageway designed for high-speed traffic, it links the towns of Kigongo and Busisi, transforming the corridor into a strategic hub set to energise trade, tourism and agriculture across the region. 

Tanzania’s Minister of Works Abdallah Ulega called it a project of historic significance during a recent tour. It was built with an investment of more than TZS700 billion ($282 million) by the government. Ulega said this milestone marks a transformative step in East Africa’s infrastructure development as the Tanzanian government fully financed the project, demonstrating the country’s commitment to self-financing its major infrastructure projects. 

With its promise of improved mobility, enhanced trade and stronger regional ties, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has described the bridge as a milestone infrastructure project in the country. 

“The state-of-the-art bridge will reduce the travel time across Lake Victoria from two hours to five minutes and will also help to boost trade with neighbouring countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” Hassan said during the inauguration on 19 June 2025. 

Arguably, the Magufuli Bridge stands as a symbol of progress and possibility for Tanzania and East Africa at large, as it not only honours the legacy of the late president’s infrastructure-focused leadership, but also sets a benchmark for future projects across the continent. 

Speaking at the same inauguration event, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian, affirmed that the Magufuli Bridge is a landmark project under the Belt and Road Initiative. 

“This is a model of China-Tanzania cooperation, highlighting its broader significance for China-Africa development,” Chen stated. 

Constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. (CCECC) and China Railway 15th Bureau Group, the bridge features advanced engineering techniques, including cantilever casting of 123 segments, supporting high-speed traffic and heavy loads. 

Engineers say the design not only highlights cutting-edge construction methods, but also ensures the bridge can handle high-speed traffic with precision and safety, standing as a striking testament to modern bridge engineering in Africa. 

 

Changing lives 

The bridge is expected to boost surrounding industries, including agriculture, tourism and commerce, benefitting over 1 million residents around Lake Victoria. “This drastically lowers cross-lake transport costs by 10 to 15 percent,” CCECC recently noted. 

For Raphael Ndagala, a taxi driver operating on the Busisi-Mwanza route, the bridge means more than just a faster journey; it also opens a new business territory. Ndagala said that before, Kigongo felt like a distant, unprofitable area, but now, as he drives across the bridge, he sees a continuous flow of opportunity. “I no longer fear the jarring stop-and-go of the ferry lines,” he noted. 

Ndagala is upbeat that the bridge’s gleaming white towers serve as a beacon for new customers and fares, while the sound of his phone chiming with ride requests from across the creek has become a regular, welcomed melody. 

“I no longer feel the pressure of a limited customer base, but the liberating thrill of an open road - a future with no boundaries!”