Anna Bhobho, a 31-year-old housewife from rural Zimbabwe, arrives at the market with her electric tricycle loaded with tomatoes. Just a few years ago, she was a silent observer in her home, excluded from financial and family decision-making in a deeply patriarchal society. Today, she is a driver of change in her village, thanks to an electric tricycle she owns and uses to deliver crops for farmers in Wedza district, about 150 kilometers (nearly 100 miles) from Harare.
In many parts of rural sub-Saharan Africa, women have traditionally been excluded from economic activities such as operating public transportation. However, three-wheelers powered by green energy are reversing that trend, providing financial opportunities and empowering women. “My husband now relies on me to cover most household expenses, from groceries and school fees for our children to buying furniture. Before, I couldn’t do it, but thanks to this tricycle, I can now contribute and help,” says Bhobho.
Called “Hamba,” meaning “go” in Ndebele, the tricycles are powered by solar-charged lithium-ion batteries. Mobility for Africa, a local startup, piloted the project in 2019 by leasing the vehicles to groups of women for $15 a month. Today, individual women like Bhobho can own them through a lease-to-purchase program. Bhobho now owns land, has opened a small grocery store, is paying off a car, and has moved her children from an underfunded rural public school to a better-equipped private institution. She earns up to $300 a month, comparable to government workers like schoolteachers. Beyond financial gains, she has gained self-esteem. “Even my husband and in-laws have more respect for me now. No one used to listen to me, but now I have a seat when important decisions are being made,” says the mother of three.
The impact of the tricycles extends beyond their owners. Many women in Zimbabwe have seen their daily lives improve, even those who do not own a tricycle but use them for transportation. The days of carrying firewood, buckets of water, or heavy farm produce over long distances are gone. The tricycles, capable of navigating narrow paths inaccessible to cars, make it easier to reach remote homesteads and vegetable gardens. Their affordability also makes them accessible to locals, further transforming rural communities.
Hilda Takadini, a tomato farmer, has seen her business flourish since she started using Bhobho’s transport services. Previously, she had to leave home at 3 a.m., traveling 18 kilometers (11 miles) to the market with an ox-drawn cart. Often, she arrived too late or not at all, leading to wasted produce. “Transporting our produce to the market was a nightmare. We used to wake up at 3 a.m. and travel long distances using an ox-drawn cart, but now it is much easier. We can reach the market on time,” says the 34-year-old mother of six.
In Wedza, only women own and operate the tricycles. They receive training in safe driving skills, and swapping a lithium battery for a fully recharged one after about 100 kilometers (70 miles) costs just $1. According to Carlin Thandi Ngandu, the community engagement coordinator for Mobility for Africa, 300 women across Zimbabwe are part of the program, with a goal of ensuring that 70% of the beneficiaries are women. “We are providing rural communities with affordable transport solutions, especially for women. Most women spend countless hours trying to reach markets, hospitals, and water sources. The tricycle has improved last-mile mobility because many women could not reach the market on time and could not afford the transport costs charged for hiring a vehicle,” says Ngandu.
Beyond economic empowerment, the tricycles are also revolutionizing healthcare access, particularly for women and children. Josephine Nyevhe, a volunteer community health worker, uses her tricycle to bring medical services closer to rural families. After meeting a group of mothers with children by the roadside, Nyevhe hangs up a weighing scale on a tree branch to check the children’s weight. Many times, her tricycle has served as a village ambulance. “The other day, I got a call to attend to a pregnant woman. I’m there to respond to emergencies, so on that day, I used my Hamba tricycle to rush her to the clinic where she got assistance,” she says.
At Wedza shopping center, nearly a dozen women line up with their tricycles, waiting for customers. The vehicles, capable of carrying loads of up to 450 kilograms (nearly 1,000 pounds) and reaching speeds of 60 km/h (37 mph), transport passengers, patients heading to hospitals, and people carrying building materials such as bricks, groceries, and firewood. However, the women face challenges, including rough terrain worsened by recent rains and resistance from some men who are uncomfortable seeing women take the lead in traditionally male-dominated spaces.
Despite these challenges, the women remain determined. Bhobho and others like her are proving that access to affordable, sustainable transportation can transform lives, empower women, and uplift entire communities. The introduction of electric tricycles in Zimbabwe is more than just a transportation solution—it is a symbol of progress, economic independence, and a brighter future for women in rural Africa.
