Anna Bhobho, a 31-year-old housewife from rural Zimbabwe, once played a passive role in her home, excluded from financial and family decisions in a patriarchal society. Today, she has become a catalyst for change in her village, thanks to her electric tricycle.
In many rural parts of sub-Saharan Africa, women have traditionally been excluded from key economic activities such as running public transportation. However, solar-powered three-wheelers are changing that dynamic, providing new financial opportunities and boosting women’s confidence.
"My husband now relies on me to cover many expenses, including purchasing furniture and other assets," Bhobho shared at a market in Wedza, where she transports crops for farmers about 150 kilometers (nearly 100 miles) from Harare.
The three-wheelers, known as "Hamba" (meaning "go" in Ndebele), are powered by solar-charged lithium-ion batteries. In 2019, the local startup Mobility for Africa began a pilot program, leasing the vehicles to groups of women for $15 a month. Today, women like Bhobho can buy them through a lease-to-own program.
"I used to depend on my husband for everything, even money for bread," she said.
Now, Bhobho owns land, operates a small grocery store, is paying off a car, and has enrolled her children in a private school with better resources. She earns up to $300 a month, on par with government workers such as schoolteachers.
Beyond the financial benefits, Bhobho has gained a sense of self-worth.
"Even my husband and in-laws respect me more now. I never had a voice before, but now I have a seat at the table for important decisions," said Bhobho, a mother of three.
Carlin Thandi Ngandu, the community engagement coordinator for Mobility for Africa, reported that 300 women across Zimbabwe are part of the program, aiming for women to make up 70% of the beneficiaries.
In Wedza, only women own and operate the tricycles. They receive training in safe driving, and for just $1, they can exchange a lithium battery for a fully charged one after covering 100 kilometers (about 70 miles).
Motorcycles are a popular form of transport in sub-Saharan Africa, with some shifting to electric versions to reduce fuel costs. The United Nations Environmental Programme is also promoting electric two and three-wheelers in several East African countries. In Nigeria, a green energy company and the UK’s Foreign Office are providing 120 electric three-wheelers to women, supporting both sustainability and economic empowerment.
In Zimbabwe, many women’s lives have been transformed, even for those who don’t own tricycles but use them for daily tasks. The days of carrying heavy loads of firewood, water, or farm produce over long distances are over.
These tricycles can navigate narrow paths that cars can't access, reaching remote homes and gardens. Their affordability makes them accessible to the local population.
Hilda Takadini, a tomato farmer, said her business has thrived since she started using Bhobho’s services. Previously, she had to leave home at 3 a.m. and use an ox-drawn cart to travel 18 kilometers (11 miles) to the market. She often arrived too late, and her tomatoes would spoil.
"Now, I get better prices because I can reach the market on time with fresh tomatoes. Even my children can rely on me for school fees," said the 34-year-old mother of six.
At Wedza shopping center, several women wait with their tricycles, which can carry up to 450 kilograms (nearly 1,000 pounds) and reach speeds of 60 kph (37 mph). They transport passengers, patients heading to hospitals, and people with goods like bricks, groceries, and firewood.
However, the women face challenges like rough terrain, worsened by recent rains, and resistance from some men who are uncomfortable with women taking leadership roles in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
Beyond business, the tricycles are improving healthcare access, especially for women and children. Josephine Nyevhe, a volunteer community health worker, uses her tricycle to bring medical services closer to rural families.
On a recent afternoon, Nyevhe arrived on her tricycle, set up a weighing scale, and measured children’s growth while providing nutrition advice and referring severe cases to the local clinic.
Her tricycle often serves as a village ambulance.
"I am always on standby. I get calls at all hours and rush people to the hospital. Sometimes, it’s a pregnant woman who would have delivered at home in unsafe conditions," Nyevhe said, wearing her brown uniform.