Tension and frustration involved the Kimalam Whishaw Bus Terminal in Dar es Salaam yesterday morning. This is because hundreds of commuters were stuck for hours amid acute shortages of UDA Rapid Transit (UDART) buses at peak times.
As early as dawn, long queues began to form, extending well beyond the normal waiting zone.
Over time, things got worse. Several buses passed the terminal and caused a rise in confusion and rage among those who had been waiting since the early hours, not stopping to pick up passengers.
The air was thick with frustration. Some commuters roamed restlessly, others sat quietly on benches under the terminal roof, their eyes fixed to the road with concern.
Though protected from the sun, the growing crowd and long waiting periods created a tense atmosphere.
Every time we passed the bus that didn’t stop, a moan of mistrust rang out until some of the disgruntled commuters decided they were waiting long enough. In a voluntary act of protest, the crowd surged forward, blocking the departing UDART bus and demanding boarding.
When the doors opened, passengers rushed up, secured spots and tried desperately to continue the day.
The chaotic scenes were more than the instantaneous confusion. It reflects the deeper systemic challenges facing transportation systems.
“I got here at 7:15am,” said Beatrice Mwingira, mother of three and a petty trader who commutes to Kaliacu every day.
“It’s now close to 9am and one bus has never chosen us. Some people pass without stopping.” Normal commuter Maria John has expressed concern about what she described as a confused boarding process.
“The situation at Kimara is frustrating. It’s the same every day. Just beat the rush and wait over 30 minutes to arrive early. And when the bus finally appears, it’s a scramble.
She recalls that passengers queued in an orderly manner during Covid-19, but that discipline is now gone.
“Now, it’s just a mess and the station staff are not providing help,” she added. Another commuter, Wilson Magenbe, reiterated his emotions and highlighted how unreliable services affect people’s livelihoods.
“The government needs to intervene. There are too few buses and we are suffering. We arrive late for work and appointments. We wanted the BRT to bring relief, but honestly, using a tricycle (bajaj) is better than this.” Zena Mwarabu also criticized the lack of communication from terminal staff.
“The attendants don’t let us know anything. All they say is, “Patied, the bus is here.” This is not the way public services are tired.
Later that day, UDART Management issued a statement attributed to the morning’s confusion involving an unexpected incident involving a cargo truck.
“From around 8am, a freight truck accidentally entered the rapid transport lane, blocking part of the road between Kibo and Ubungomaji stations,” the statement read.
“The blockage lasted more than 20 minutes, significantly disrupting the normal flow of the bus,” the statement added.
Udart added that blockages will force some buses to redisplay or pause scheduled outages, leading to delays and overcrowding at Kimara and other terminals.
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“We sincerely apologize to all passengers for any inconvenience caused and we continue to be committed to providing reliable and efficient services,” the company said.
Despite the apology, the incident at Kimara highlights deeper concerns. Transportation systems are expanding beyond their capabilities.
With the city’s population and transport demands continuing to grow, the current Udart bus fleet has proven insufficient.
Last week, the government said it had signed contracts with three service providers for phase 2 operation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
The Minister of State for the Local Administration and Local Government President’s Office (Polarg) told lawmakers yesterday that the contract was signed through a government-private sector (PPP) partnership.
