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RWENDO

SIMPHIWE MUNYARADZI MOYO A short photo-docuseries into the transport system of Zimbabwe

While driving back home with a friend afterwork, I noticed a recuring theme. There are several people that not only are waiting for transport on the side of the road, but are hustling, desparetly trying to jump into the next availabe vehicle willing to give them a lift, regardless of the type of vehicle.

Common terms or phrases which we hear on a daily include, but are not limited to; “Mushikashika”, “kombi”, “taxi”, “Mabhazi”. These are all words used to refer to the cars and buses which transport people around the City, taking people from point A to B.

An unfortunate reality is that these cars aren’t as safe as one would expect them to be. Some drivers do not even have the reNot only did this invoke a feel- quired permits and licenses which ing of worry in me from a safe- enable them to transport people. ty perspective, but also from a Unsurprisingly, this leads to erratservice delivery perspective. ic and dangerous driving, which in turn has led to many accidents that are often times fatal. Police operThis docuseries intends to such as “TAME TRAFFIC highlight shortcomings of the ations JUNGLE” show that there is some transport system that have recognistion of a problem howevbeen normalised for years. er, no matter how hard they try to tame it, it really is a jungle.

Cover: Rwendo 6

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The typical day for a commutor in Zimbawe is an early start with one heading out into the streets as early as 5AM. To much disdain, they are met by long queues and busy activity, as people jostle to enter into buses, kombi’s and mshikashika. Due to limited space and high demand, a consequence of these shortages is overcrowding, which not only poses a safety risk, but a health one .

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People at times undermine the situation they are in, often downplay the situation’s impact on their every day lives. There is a sense of numbness that you can read on people’s faces. They have had to resort to means and measures which boarder on desparation just to reach their destination, braving the elements in open air just to get home. We under-estimate the socio-economic impact that a functional transport system has on people and a growing economy.

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R W E N D O

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One then begs the question, what then can be done? How can we improve our transport system to ensure that it is reliable, efficient and safe?

Can one say that it is a matter of strict regulation of public transport whilst sacrificing the issue of availability? How about the buses which are clearly marked “80km for other roads and 100km for wide tar”, but overtake you while you are moving at 120 on the highway, managing to open and maintain a gap? How about the 7-seater mshikashika yakaloader vanhu 12 PLUS masaga yakananga kwaMtoko. Todii navo? The reality is we all see that something has to be done but what can we do because tineRWENDO, ndozviripo here team?

Above: Rwendo 12