BRT Operator Faces Opposition Over Request to Remove Daladala from Kilwa Road
Dar es Salaam. Mofat Company, operating Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services along Kilwa Road, faces strong opposition from stakeholders and residents over its proposal to remove daladala minibuses from the route. Critics argue that transport demand far exceeds the capacity of rapid buses currently available.
The company’s request to eliminate daladala stems from reported financial losses since operations began in October 2025, attributing poor performance to low passenger numbers as commuters continue using daladala, motorcycle taxis (bodaboda), and tricycles (bajaji).
Mofat has submitted a formal request to the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra), seeking removal of daladala, bodaboda, and bajaji from the corridor to become the sole transport service provider.
Residents Voice Concerns Over Transport Monopoly
Residents and transport stakeholders warn against allowing the company to operate alone on the route, citing transport hardships that occurred on Morogoro Road following daladala removal.
Cost concerns dominate resident complaints, with BRT services charging Sh1,000 per trip compared to daladala and bajaji fares ranging between Sh500 and Sh700.
Toangoma resident Anord Kelvin questioned how the company could report losses while competing with daladala and bodaboda, despite having a dedicated congestion-free lane, gas-powered buses, and higher fares.
"There should come a point when BRT operators stop seeing themselves as superior to other transport providers because they have already been given every advantage, starting with infrastructure," he stated.
Chamazi resident Jenifer John emphasized that daladala remain essential, especially for passengers traveling to Ubungo, Kawe, or Mwenge—areas not yet served by the BRT system. She explained that using daladala allows direct travel from Mbagala to her destination, while BRT requires two vehicles and higher fares.
Mbagala resident Oscar Shimbo noted that transport demand in Dar es Salaam remains very high, suggesting that if Mofat has excess buses, they should be deployed to areas where infrastructure is more than 90 percent complete.
"For example, Gongo la Mboto—the BRT road there is said to be 90 percent complete. Why not take the buses there? After all, contracts are made by human beings—what’s the problem with amending them to spare citizens from transport hardships?" he said.
Union Leaders Warn Against Hasty Removal
The Secretary of the Tanzania Drivers’ Union (Tadwu), Ramadhan Seleman, urged Latra to remember the transport chaos that occurred on Morogoro Road when daladala were removed.
"From a business perspective, removing daladala may make sense, but from a service perspective it does not. If daladala are removed abruptly, we may see a repeat of what happened in Kimara, where residents protested and unrest erupted when their transport challenges under the BRT system were ignored," Seleman warned.
He added that it’s premature for Mofat to claim losses before completing even one year of operations, urging the company to allow more time for adjustment.
The chairman of daladala drivers and conductors at Mbagala terminal, Mwinshehe Chambuso, highlighted income disparities among citizens, noting people choose transport they can afford.
"The BRT fare is Sh1,000 from station to station, while daladala charge as low as Sh500, especially for those alighting at intermediate stops. If you remove them completely, the people who will suffer are citizens—considering that some wake up in the morning without even Sh1,000," he explained.
Chambuso noted that Mofat buses fill up during morning and evening peak hours, with midday passenger drops being normal. He advised against immediate daladala removal, recommending research to determine alternative relocation areas, considering many families depend on them for livelihoods.
"One daladala employs up to five people, not counting garage workers. If you take away their bread today, how do you expect them to survive? The government should reflect on this as well," he said.
Bajaji and Bodaboda Sector Raises Concerns
The chairman of the Federation of Bajaji and Bodaboda Drivers, Daud Kagomba, challenged the notion that small transport providers compete with BRT, pointing out that motorcycles carry two passengers, bajaji carry four, while one bus carries over 160 passengers.
Kagomba warned the government that removing them could lead to increased street crime, considering the sector employs more than 200,000 people, with Temeke District alone registering over 38,000 bajaji and bodaboda.
He urged Mofat to focus on improving services instead of blaming bodaboda and bajaji, noting that BRT was introduced to ease transport hardships in areas where passengers previously struggled.
One daladala owner, speaking anonymously, revealed they held several meetings with Latra offering advice on gradual removal without negative impacts, including proposals to ferry passengers from peripheral areas to BRT stations. However, they expressed surprise when such tenders were awarded to foreign companies.
Company Defends Financial Position
Mofat’s Chief Operations Officer, Mabrouk Masasi, confirmed the company has incurred losses since operations began, explaining that daladala, bajaji, and bodaboda were supposed to have been removed before bus introduction but remain operational.
"By operating alongside these vehicles, we end up sharing the available passengers, meaning we make no profit. That is also why we have failed to add more buses to the road. Currently only 40 buses are operating, while 160 are parked," Masasi said.
He noted the financial burden of loan repayments for purchased buses and salaries for more than 187 drivers, many underutilized yet requiring full monthly compensation.
The company has formally requested Latra remove daladala and bajaji to achieve minimal operational profitability.
Latra’s head of public relations, Salum Pazzy, confirmed receipt of the request and stated it’s under review, noting the matter requires consultation with other transport sector stakeholders.
