Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Association of Bus Owners (Taboa) has requested another meeting with Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba to address rising operating costs and a potential increase in passenger fares.
Taboa Secretary General Priscus Joseph said on Saturday, August 22, 2026, that the association intended to outline the extra expenses bus operators have incurred since relocating their operations to the Magufuli Bus Terminal.
“We met the Prime Minister in April, and he instructed us not to raise fares despite higher fuel costs, aimed at easing the financial burden on Tanzanians. However, circumstances are changing as our operational expenses continue to escalate,” stated Mr Joseph.
He explained that operators are now saddled with additional overheads, including purchasing shuttle buses to convey passengers from the terminal to various areas in Dar es Salaam and buying trucks to transport luggage.
“We are appealing to the Prime Minister to grant us another audience so that we can deliberate on adjusting fares upward to help us absorb the fresh costs of acquiring shuttles and luggage trucks,” he noted.
Taboa is also seeking authorization to offload luggage at operators’ offices and for upcountry buses to drop off passengers at designated locations nearer to their final destinations to curb supplementary transport costs.
Mr Joseph affirmed that the association supported the regional administration’s directive to shift bus operations to the Magufuli terminal, noting that all its members have complied with the order.
Nevertheless, he urged the regional authorities to urgently resolve ongoing operational bottlenecks at the terminal, specifically the overwhelming presence of unauthorized touts and ticket brokers.
