Minibuses will carry two passengers per seat, as a call by government in order to protect citizens from coronavirus pandemic.

The directive, from the Ministry of Transport, ordered public service vehicles should reduce their seating capacity to 60%, to which the Minibus Owners Association of Malawi (MOAM) has adhered to. Moam National Chairperson, Felix Mbonekera said  that effective 1st April this year all minibuses will be carrying two passengers per seat. “Together with road traffic directorate, we have instituted a task force which will be doing spot check in the roads to ensure that all the minibuses which have sealed windows at the back should be open and sitting capacity we have agreed to minimize only for this period of Covid-19.”

According to Mbonekera, failure to adhere to the recommendations will risk drivers to losing their licenses and  vehicle road permit. It has not yet communicated whether the development will affect bus fares, but as usual for bus owners, passengers will inconveniently learn of any new developments, while right in the respective vehicles.