On Saturday, March 22, 2025, the transformative impact of electric tricycles on women in rural Zimbabwe was highlighted in a report by ABC News showcasing how tricycles are reshaping lives and communities
In a report by ABC News, Anna Bhobho, a 31-year-old housewife in Wedza district, shared how owning an electric tricycle has changed her life and ushered her into financial independence
In Wedza district, about 150 kilometres from Harare, women like Anna Bhobho have embraced these three-wheelers as tools for independence and economic empowerment
“My husband now looks up to me to take care of a large chunk of expenses, including buying furniture and other assets,” ABC News cited her as saying.
Previously reliant on her husband for even basic needs, Bhobho now uses her tricycle to deliver crops for farmers and earn an income. These vehicles, known locally as Hamba (meaning “go” in Ndebele), are powered by solar-charged lithium-ion batteries and were introduced by Mobility for Africa in 2019.
The initiative started as a leasing program, where women paid $15 monthly to share a tricycle. Over time, the project evolved into a lease-to-purchase model, eventually allowing women to own their vehicles. The affordability of these tricycles has made them accessible to many rural women, enabling them to carry heavy loads such as firewood, water, and farm produce over long distances.
Hilda Takadini, a tomato farmer from the same area, also benefits from the initiative. She uses Bhobho’s transport services to deliver her produce to market on time. “I get better prices because now I reach the market with my tomatoes still fresh,” said Takadini. Before this innovation, she relied on an ox-drawn cart and often lost her produce due to delays.
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Economic opportunities and community impact
Electric tricycles are empowering individual women and transforming entire communities. At Wedza shopping centre, nearly a dozen women gather daily with their tricycles to offer transport services. The vehicles can carry up to 450 kilograms and reach 60 kilometres per hour. They are used for transporting passengers, building materials, groceries, and even patients needing urgent medical care.
The Hamba tricycles are assembled in Harare using kits imported from China and cost around $2,000 each.
Mobility for Africa has partnered with international organisations such as the Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund Africa to support the project financially. The trust fund aims to promote clean energy solutions for underserved communities in Zimbabwe.
Beyond economic benefits, tricycles have reduced the physical burden traditionally borne by women. For instance, Anna Mureza from Mungate Village shared how leasing a Hamba has eased her domestic workload. “We used to walk very long distances with heavy loads in the past,” she said. Now, she can transport chicken feed and eggs efficiently while finding time to rest—an uncommon luxury for many rural women.
Solar Shack’s solar-powered charging stations further enhance this initiative’s sustainability. A fully charged battery powers a tricycle for up to 100 kilometres and costs just $3 to swap at designated stations.
Mobility for Africa’s director, Shanta Bloemen, reflected on the project’s journey since its inception: “When we started, it was very lonely. No one was talking about electric mobility in Africa, let alone for rural women.” Today, the organisation plans to expand its fleet significantly and make electric mobility a mainstream solution for rural transportation challenges.
Women like Bhobho and Takadini exemplify how clean energy technology can drive social change. By providing affordable mobility solutions tailored to local needs, electric tricycles empower women in Zimbabwe’s rural areas to take control of their lives and contribute meaningfully to their families and communities.
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