Photo credit, Monica Maduhu Makindi
Monica Maduhu Makindi, a 27-year-old truck driver from Bariadi, in the Simiyu region of Tanzania, says she has been denied job opportunities simply because she is a woman.
Despite these obstacles, she persevered in long-distance road transport — a profession that allows her to be independent, raise her two children and finance her younger brother's studies.
“It's terrible to think that after fighting, training and working hard to get your license, you're told, 'We don't hire women,'” says Monica.
For several years, Monica has been driving heavy goods vehicles, transporting goods over long distances, including across borders. She explains that her passion for this profession was born when she saw men driving trucks and wondered why she couldn't do the same.
“If men can drive them, why can’t I?” » she remembers asking herself.
Monica started driving trucks in 2021, but her journey to this profession began much earlier, during her youth, after going through various challenges.
Born and raised in Bariadi, she was taken care of by her grandmother after her mother died. Faced with difficult living conditions, she left home around the age of 14, looking for a way to support herself.
She eventually moved to Dar es Salaam, where she worked as a domestic worker, while feeling increasingly drawn to the world of road transport. She says that while traveling as a passenger in trucks, she observed men practicing this profession and began to aspire, too, to become a driver. Coming across a woman behind the wheel of a truck motivated her even more, reinforcing her belief that women, too, are capable.
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“It really lit a spark in me: If she could do it, why couldn’t I? What am I missing? » she said.
Later, she met drivers who taught her how to maneuver heavy trucks. Among them is John, who she credits with helping her learn her driving skills.
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Although she has experience driving trucks, Monica says there are still companies that are not willing to hire women for this position.
She remembers going to some companies looking for work and being told point blank that they didn't hire women.
“I've been flat-out refused jobs, just told, 'No, we don't hire women,'” she explains.
She adds that people sometimes doubt her abilities because of her build or youthful appearance, without even considering her experience.
Some people who see her on social networks ask her if she is really the one driving the trucks she poses with.
"'Are you really the one driving that truck, or are you just posing for pictures?' “, she explains, referring to a question that she is often asked.
However, she believes that attitudes towards women occupying positions traditionally reserved for men are starting to change.
“Things are changing today, because in the past, we thought that we women were not capable of it,” she explains.
Even women doubted his abilities
Monica explains that, sometimes, it was even her colleagues who expressed doubts about her ability to drive a truck.
She recalls an incident that occurred while she was driving at night in the Igunga area of the Tabora region. She came across three women standing on the side of the road with a child and decided to pick them up.
She explains that normally she doesn't like to take passengers when she's alone, for safety reasons. However, that day, she was accompanied by her assistant, which reassured her and encouraged her to help these women.
But when one of the women learned that the truck driver was a woman, she refused to get in.
"When one of them saw that, she said, 'Hey, hey, I'm not getting in... it's a woman, I'm not getting in,' and they all refused to get in the vehicle," Monica said.
This incident hurt her, especially since her intention was to help these women who found themselves stranded on the road in the middle of the night.
“You stop to offer to help, someone refuses, you don't even ask for money, and the reason is because you're a woman,” she says.
Monica explains that the incident left her feeling sorry for herself, wondering why some people continue to believe that a woman can't drive a large truck safely.
Despite these prejudices, she continues to practice her profession and is convinced that women are just as capable as men of being a heavy goods vehicle driver.
The first trip that gave him confidence
Monica remembers her first trip transporting goods to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) — an experience marked by fear and many challenges.
She says she was given a truck loaded with containers full of second-hand goods, even though she had not yet fully mastered the vehicle's clutch system.
“I shook the whole way,” she recalls.
Not knowing the route, she asked other drivers going in the same direction to travel with her. They helped her reach her destination, and as the journey progressed, she gained experience and confidence.
Today, she considers that her job is essential, because it has allowed her to take charge of her life and assume her family responsibilities.
“I love my job very much; he gives me the strength to fly with my own wings, and God is everything for me,” she confides.
Between traveling and raising children
In addition to the challenges linked to her job, Monica must also reconcile her responsibilities as a driver with the education of her two children.
She explains that her travels can take her away from her family for four to five days, and sometimes up to a week.
When she returns home, she tries to spend time with her children, playing with them and enjoying the time away from them.
“When I’m at home, you know, with the kids… we play with them. The children are very happy,” she says.
Monica says her work has also allowed her to finance the education of her youngest brother, who is currently studying for a degree at Shinyanga, as well as provide for the needs and education of her own children.
“I am very proud because I finance my little brother’s studies; he is currently studying for a degree at Shinyanga. I finance his studies myself. I don’t get help from anyone,” she explains.
Call for safety and the working environment
Monica explains that one of the difficulties female drivers face is having to wait for a long time in truck lines, especially at the country's borders.
She says these queues can last several days, making it even more difficult to find places to wash and access other essential services.
“I ask our Tanzanian government to help us; women shouldn't have to wait in line... because you can spend up to two days there. As a woman, it’s a challenge,” she explains.
She also recalls an incident where her truck broke down at night in Vwawa area of Mbeya region. She says young men followed and threatened her, prompting her to call a friend to stay with her until the car was repaired.
This incident made him realize the importance of safety measures for drivers, especially when they find themselves alone on the road.
On the other hand, she believes that society should recognize the contribution of drivers in transporting goods and various essential commodities, while employers should ensure that salaries and travel allowances are commensurate with their responsibilities.
“Driving is a very good job, and it's very lucrative, if you do it right,” she says.
To young people who aspire to enter this sector, Monica sends a message: do not give up in the face of difficulties or criticism.
“We can do it, yes. Everyone can achieve it, if we give ourselves the means,” she says.
For Monica, being a truck driver is not just a job, but a way to be independent, to provide for her family and to show that the ability to work should not be determined by gender.
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