Passengers Remain Stranded at Magufuli Bus Terminal Despite Minister’s Call to Resume Journeys

Dar es Salaam — Despite the Minister for Home Affairs, Patrobas Katambi, urging drivers to return to work and resume their journeys peacefully, some passengers remained stranded at the Magufuli Bus Terminal on Tuesday night, waiting for information about when they would be able to travel.

Some passengers who had booked tickets for Monday, September 28, and Tuesday, September 29, 2026, said they had been told they would begin their journeys on Wednesday, despite originally being scheduled to leave earlier.

Others said they had not received any information about when their buses would depart, leaving them uncertain about their travel arrangements.

The situation continued several hours after Minister Katambi met with drivers who had stopped providing services since Tuesday morning. The drivers were demanding that the government address challenges they said they were facing.

During the meeting, Minister Katambi urged the drivers to resume their journeys peacefully and assured them of security along the routes where they would operate.

However, the minister’s statement did not immediately change the situation at the terminal. By Tuesday night, the facility still resembled a bus parking yard, with no apparent movement of passengers and buses.

Passengers were seen sitting in groups, while others slept on seats or on the floor as they waited for information about their journeys. Some had remained inside their buses since morning, using their phones, sleeping or talking with fellow passengers.

Sabina Musemwa, one of the passengers stranded at the terminal, said she arrived at 6 a.m. and was scheduled to depart at 11 a.m., but her journey was cancelled because of the drivers’ strike.

She said passengers were later told to wait until Wednesday, the day they had originally expected to already be on their way.

“I am waiting and sleeping here, curled up, hoping that tomorrow we will travel as we were promised. We are supposed to go to Shinyanga on a Katarama bus. I am here with my colleagues, although some have gone to sleep at lodges,” she said.

Sabina said the situation had caused significant difficulties for passengers, but they had little choice because they had already purchased their tickets and were uncertain whether they would be able to get refunds.

Another passenger, Abdazari John, said they remained uncertain despite being promised that they would depart on Wednesday, adding that there were still no clear signs that the journeys would resume.

“Every driver you see appears unhappy with the decision that has been made. We had hoped that after the minister spoke with the drivers, they would agree to resume work and that by now we would be on the road. But as you can see, I am still here with my family,” he said.

As of 11 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, no bus had departed from the terminal, and there were no clear signs that journeys were about to resume.