Can the state perpetuate the marginalisation of the poor? The socio-economic effects of the state's ban on minibus ‘callboys’ in Malawi

Figures & data

Table 1:  Callboys' educational background

Educational background	Number	%
No formal education	7	4.6
Primary school dropout	43	28.7
Finished primary school	72	48.0
Secondary school dropout	28	18.7
Finished secondary school	0	0
Total	150	100.0

Table 2:  Callboys' previous activity

Previous activity	Number	%
Thief	6	4.0
House boy	14	9.3
Street vending	66	44.0
Subsistence village farmer	45	30.0
Straight from school	11	7.3
Begging	8	5.4
Total	150	100.0

Table 3:  Economic advantage of minibus-calling for short-distance buses (MWK)

Route	Minibus bus fare per person^a	Callboy payment per trip	Average payment, 5 minibuses per day	Approximate payment per month
Blantyre–Limbe	50	50	500	15 000
Lilongwe city centre–Area 18	70	70	700	21 000
^aUSD1 = MWK141.00 (Malawi kwacha) as of 29 October 2007.
Note: For comparison, Grade 3 (T3) teacher's monthly salary = US$6000.

Table 4:  Economic advantage of minibus-calling for long-distance buses (MWK)

Route	Minibus bus fare per person^a	Callboy payment per trip	Average payment, 5 minibuses per day	Approximate payment per month
Blantyre–Lilongwe	1000	1000	5000	150 000
Zomba–Lilongwe	800	800	4000	120 000
Blantyre–Mzuzu	2000	2000	10 000	300 000
Lilongwe–Mzuzu	1000	1000	5000	150 000
Blantyre–Zomba	250	250	1250	37 500
Blantyre–Mangochi	500	500	2500	75 000
^aUSD1 = MWK141.00 (Malawi kwacha) as of 29 October 2007.
Note: For comparison, Grade 3 (T3) teacher's monthly salary = US$6000.