- 31-year-old Anna Bhobho generates $300 monthly using her leased electric trike
- 300+ participants in Mobility for Africa’s women-focused transport initiative
- $1 battery swaps enable 100km ranges for agricultural deliveries
- Tricycles reduce 18km farm-to-market trips to 45 minutes
- Program targets 70% female participation in clean energy mobility
In Wedza’s sunbaked farmlands, a quiet revolution unfolds as matriarchs command three-wheeled electric vehicles. Once excluded from financial decisions, women like Anna Bhobho now lead household budgeting through trike-enabled entrepreneurship. Local startup Mobility for Africa designed the Hamba (“Go”) vehicles specifically for rural terrain, featuring 450kg payload capacities and modular batteries.
The program’s lease-to-own model proves transformative. Participants initially pay $15 monthly before assuming full ownership – a critical structure in regions where 62% of women lack collateral for traditional loans. Bhobho’s expanded grocery business and private school enrollments exemplify the initiative’s ripple effects. “Now my opinion counts during family meetings,” she notes while delivering tomatoes that once rotted in oxcart transit.
Beyond commerce, these lithium-ion-powered workhorses reshape healthcare access. Community worker Josephine Nyevhe conducts mobile clinics via trike, slashing maternal mortality risks through emergency obstetric transport. Her modified vehicle carries vaccination coolers and growth charts, reaching villages where 43% of children under five face stunting from malnutrition.
Challenges persist despite progress. Participants navigate male skepticism and muddy trails during rainy seasons. Yet the economic calculus convinces doubters – a single $1 battery charge generates $8-12 in transport fees, outperforming gasoline alternatives. As UN Environment Program expands similar models to Kenya and Rwanda, Zimbabwe’s pioneers blueprint an inclusive electric mobility future.
Industry analysts highlight three untapped opportunities: integrating cargo trailers for expanded hauling capacity, developing solar-powered charging hubs, and training women as battery technicians. These innovations could elevate average incomes to $500 monthly while addressing Africa’s $136 billion annual mobility gap.
