Zambike with chicken, Katuba.
Fun fact: “Zam” is a popular prefix in Zambia. The patriotic front is featured in such big-wig names as, “Zambeef” (beef monopoly), “Zamchick” (the poultry equivilant), and “Zamshoe” (self explainatory).
About Zambike.
Like IDE (the treadle pump people), ZamBike is a social enterprise. This means that they began as a non-profit organization that recieved funds from various donors, but aim to become a market-driven, profit-making company. At the moment, they are the only local producer of bicycles.
After my research assistant and I had been in Katuba for a few weeks, IDE set us up with brand new, neon yellow Zambikes. And I have to say, they certainly felt like the mercedes benzs of bikes. Even if the reflecters were a little loose and the gears a bit cranky, they had working brakes, after all! And gears. And functioning adjustable seats. Without a doubt, they were an impressive upgrade from our previous mode of transportation. (Feet). As a result of ZamBike adoption, we experienced increased productivity, reduced overall drudgery, and I’d say significantly improved levels of well-being.
The Problem.
Like with treadle and motor pumps, this led me to ask: if they are so great, why doesn’t everyone have one? And guess what? Turns out ZamBikes seem to face similar challenges to treadle pumps. They’re also produced locally, which means that they benefit more people (ie create more jobs), but cost more than they ‘need’ too. So far at least, they’re only just accessable to the rural elite.
But they are cool. Heck, they were featured on the BBC. Plus, they’ve come up with neat (and potentially life-saving) add-ons: the Zamcart and (my favorite) the Zambulance.
Zambikes on BBC – for the record, the cost has come down. I paid $150 USD for mine. Also, I think they stopped making them from bamboo…not sure on that one.
