Passengers traveling from Moshi in Kilimanjaro to various parts of Tanzania, particularly Dar es Salaam, remained stranded at the town's main bus terminal on Wednesday as the drivers' strike continued. A visit to the terminal on September 30, 2026, found only a few buses at the station, leaving passengers who had planned to travel uncertain about when they would reach their destinations. The strike, which began on Tuesday, has caused significant disruptions to transport services.
Some drivers at the terminal said they would not resume journeys until they received further instructions from their leaders on the next steps. Passengers said they had been unable to travel since Tuesday because of the shortage of buses, with some returning home after spending hours at the terminal. January Kateri, who was traveling to Dar es Salaam, said she had planned to leave on Tuesday but was forced to postpone her journey.
Ms Kateri expressed frustration that the disruption had affected her plans and that she was still uncertain about when she would be able to travel. "We are asking the Government to resolve this issue because ordinary citizens are the ones suffering. Those of us who depend on public transport are badly affected," she said. Her sentiments were echoed by Antony Yohana, another passenger, who said the strike had significantly disrupted their plans.
Drivers at the terminal said they remained dissatisfied with the Government's response to their grievances. Doto Jumanne, a driver with Kapricon, said the explanation given by the Home Affairs Minister had not resolved their concerns. "Drivers are still not satisfied with what the Minister said because he said the matter was being addressed. He did not say it had been resolved. So the problem is still there," he said.
The drivers cited concerns about traffic enforcement operations, alleging that officers sometimes use civilian vehicles to follow buses. Kennedy Shayo, another driver, raised concerns about how some traffic officers conduct enforcement operations, alleging that officers sometimes use civilian vehicles to follow buses. "An officer sits in a civilian vehicle and follows a bus from the terminal to Bomang'ombe. It feels like an ambush," he alleged.
The strike has also affected bus agents and Government revenue, according to Hashimu Futi, a bus agent in Moshi. "The situation at the terminal is as you can see; there are hardly any buses. There are no buses going to Dar es Salaam. We have suffered major losses as agents, while the Government has also lost revenue because we sell tickets online and taxes are collected through those transactions," he said.
Mr Futi called for dialogue between the Government and drivers, saying the dispute was affecting a wide range of people. The drivers were awaiting feedback from their leaders on discussions with Government officials before deciding on their next course of action.
Key points
- The strike has caused significant disruptions to transport services in Kilimanjaro.
- Drivers are demanding that the Government address their grievances, including concerns about traffic enforcement operations.
- The strike has affected not only passengers but also bus agents and Government revenue.
