Transport Blues in Arusha as bus operators ground their vehicles protesting against authority regulations
The Police had to intervene after the situation almost went out of control due to massive demonstrations by some unruly gangs of people along the main roads and highways leading to and out of the city.
Black News 
Bus operators in the Northern Tanzanian City of Arusha have downed tools, in protest against what they explained to be the issue of local authorities forcing them to charge minimal fares despite escalating fuel prices.
The rioting bus operators grounded their vehicles effectively from the early morning hours of May 25, 2026 rendering the entire transport system in the urban precinct to collapse.
The most affected segments were the town commuter services and the buses that connect Arusha City to Moshi in Kilimanjaro, with hooligans being hired to barricade roads, causing chaos to other vehicles and attacking other transporters who refused to join the fracas.
The Arusha District Commissioner, Joseph Mkude admitted that the goons smashed other vehicles, took and occupied by force the motorized rickshaws that started picking up passengers in town, beating up their occupants.
The Police had to intervene after the situation almost went out of control due to massive demonstrations by some unruly gangs of people along the main roads and highways leading to and out of the city.
He stated that a number of irate commuter van drivers have been arrested in connection with the crime, assuring that the reported chaos will never be experienced in the city again.
Some of the drivers, commenting on the incident and explaining why they decided to boycott duties, said they had a bone to pick with the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA), which has been imposing heavy fines to operators for simply hiking up bus fares.
LATRA officials explained that bus operators are required to adhere to the fixed government rates as far as passenger fares are concerned.
However many bus owners, taking advantage of the ongoing fuel crises chose to charge people whatever amount they felt like demanding.
When the authorities stepped in, the operators decided to protest by downing tools and causing mayhem in town.
Nearly 300 commuter vans, mostly Nissan Caravans and Toyota Hiaces, ply within the Arusha Urban Precinct serving as town buses.
When the drivers ceased to operate, the town was taken over by motorcycles, known as ‘Boda-Boda,’ which started carrying people around.
Some residents were compelled to ride on the backs of pickup trucks just to get to work or reach home. Pupils and students were badly affected.
