Babra Duri. User vulnerability challenges of informal transport in Zimbabwe: a gender perspective. South African Geographical Journal, Volume 108, 2026.
This publication examines how women in small towns rely heavily on informal transport systems and the challenges they face, which often remain overlooked in transport planning and policy. Using qualitative interviews and field observations in Chipinge town, Zimbabwe, it explores women’s mobility patterns, safety concerns, access limitations, and the unpaid labor associated with daily travel.
Findings highlight gendered vulnerabilities, including harassment, lack of comfort, and inequities in access to reliable transport. Socioeconomic status further shapes these experiences, with lower-income women disproportionately affected. The publication emphasizes the need for policy and regulatory interventions to improve safety, service reliability, and inclusion, offering insights for gender-sensitive planning in small-town contexts.