Dar es Salaam/Dodoma, Tanzania — Authorities and residents are warning that many electric bikes and cargo tricycles operating in Tanzania’s major cities are unregistered, uninsured, and without license plates, exposing the public to road safety risks and crime, a Citizen investigation has found.
Most of these vehicles are found in Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital, and Dodoma, the administrative capital, where they transport goods and passengers on busy streets. Because they are often unmarked, riders involved in crashes or criminal acts can easily flee without being traced.
Rising Accidents and Safety Risks
Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Tanzania Police Force show that road accidents remain a major problem. In 2024, there were 1,735 major crashes, slightly higher than the 1,733 reported in 2023. Fatalities also increased, with 1,715 people killed and thousands injured.
Local residents and traders say electric bikes and tricycles often speed through markets and crowded areas. Some linked the vehicles to petty crimes such as snatching mobile phones or bags because unregistered vehicles make it hard to identify riders.
“It’s difficult to catch riders who flee after an accident,” said a trader in Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam. “Without number plates, there’s no way to identify or hold them accountable.”
Law Requires Registration — But Enforcement Lags
Under Tanzanian law, all motor vehicles — including electric bikes and trikes — must be registered and display plates before using public roads. The Motor Vehicle (Tax on Registration and Transfer) Act and the Road Traffic Act require registration and payment of licence fees. Owners who fail to register can face fines, imprisonment, or loss of the vehicle.
However, many operators are unaware of these rules or assume their machines are like regular bicycles that do not need documentation. A survey in parts of Dar es Salaam and Dodoma found that almost all electric tricycles on the streets lacked registration numbers.
Officials from the Traffic Police acknowledged that unregistered vehicles are a serious problem and pose a risk to public safety. They said the law allows fines, confiscation, and other penalties, but did not provide data on enforcement actions to date.
Representatives from the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) said efforts are underway to raise awareness about EV registration and to adjust regulations so electric vehicles can be registered and licensed like conventional motor vehicles.
Public Concern and Lost Revenue
Residents say the situation also results in lost government revenue from unpaid fines and taxes. Some drivers and business owners say they have never been stopped by traffic police, suggesting weak enforcement.
A local seller in Dodoma noted that electric transport is growing quickly, but authorities have not kept pace with regulation enforcement.
Authorities warn that without coordinated enforcement and stronger public awareness, unregistered electric bikes and tricycles may continue to undermine road safety, fuel crime, and erode earnings from registration fees and penalties — threatening both public security and government revenues.
