Bodabodas and Self Employment: An Inspiration for Job Creation in Tanzania: The Case of Msamvu Main Station, Morogoro

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between motorcycle operators/hire drivers (popularized as Bodabodas) and self-employment.  Particularly, it emphasizes the youth to change the mind set to abstain from job seeking to job creation and self-employment. It addresses multifaceted entrepreneurial issues in the realm of unemployment challenges and brings on board a discussion on self-employment particularly on youths ironing out the various strategies the Government of Tanzania (GoT) attempted without success in an endeavor to create self-employment to the youths.  In the face of the challenges of unemployment, it seems there is no clearcut solution on the Tanzanians employment seeking youths other than to change their mindset that will enable them to refrain from seeking employment to job creation and self-employment.The paper is based on 2017 survey data collected at Msamvu Main Stand in Morogoro Municipality of Morogoro region in Tanzania. Simple random and convenience sampling were used to select a sample of 50 respondents at Msamvu – Morogoro. The findings indicate that Bodaboda business has created self-employment to many youths despite the challenges they face. The challenges include that, the Bodabodas were charged by not abiding to regulations while some were involved in criminals. The paper concludes that despite the challenges, entrepreneurship remains to be a solution to the challenges of unemployment facing the youth in Tanzania. The Bodaboda entrepreneurial venture has accommodated many youths who otherwise could have been left loitering jobless in streets.