Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
ON most mornings in Mutare’s Central Business District (CBD), the rhythm of life has long been dictated by commuter omnibuses — engines revving, touts shouting destinations, and passengers weaving through tight spaces in a familiar, if chaotic, dance.
For years, that chaos carried both frustration and a strange sense of order, a system residents had learnt to navigate instinctively. But recently, that rhythm has shifted.
The City of Mutare has redrawn the map of public transport ranks, a move authorities say is meant to restore sanity and order. Yet for many residents, especially commuters from Dangamvura, the changes have brought something else entirely — confusion, frustration, and quiet resistance.
Where people once moved without hesitation, they now pause.
Where directions were second nature, questions now abound — and mistakes are common.
Under the new arrangement, the Old Harare Rank now accommodates buses heading to Dangamvura, Fern Valley, Zimunya and Dora.
What was formerly Dangamvura Rank has been re-designated as Chikanga Rank.
The former Chikanga Rank now serves routes for Hob-House, Penhalonga, Weirmouth and the Town Area, while the old Penhalonga Rank now caters for Sakubva and Odzi.
The Mudzviti Rank, once a bustling hub for local commuters, has been reserved strictly for inter-city buses.
On paper, the changes may read like a neat reshuffle. On the ground, however, the story is far more layered.
“I have stayed in Mutare all my life, but for the first time I feel like I do not know my own city,” said Mr George Mpofu, a commuter who had just disembarked from a kombi near the Old Harare Rank.
He laughed lightly, but his confusion was evident.
“I boarded thinking I was going to Murambinda, only to realise halfway that we were heading towards Dangamvura. By the time I understood, it was too late. I had to get off and board another kombi back into town,” he said.
His experience is not isolated.
Another commuter recounted how he ended up on a completely different route after following a crowd.
“You just see people moving, and you assume they know where they are going. Next thing, the kombi turns and you realise this is not your direction. You start asking yourself how you even got there. I got off just after the roundabout along Kumbirai Kangai (Aerodrome) Road when I was meant to be going to Dangamvura,” he said.
Such stories have quickly become part of everyday conversation in the city, shared in queues, in offices and on street corners, often accompanied by a mix of laughter and frustration.
For city authorities, however, the changes are a necessary intervention.
In an interview, City of Mutare spokesperson, Mr Charles Sadondo, defended the move, saying it is aimed at restoring order.
“We changed ranks to bring back sanity and order in the city. We changed designated ranks working together with various transport associations. We have more changes coming because we want to have order in our city,” he said.
He added that the city took steps to inform residents of the changes.
“We urge our residents to take note of these notices so that they do not end up boarding the wrong buses. We were receiving numerous complaints from residents saying they were being manhandled by touts and other people who had turned these ranks into personal property. We expect the free for all situation to end with this new development,” he said.
Indeed, for some, the changes are already yielding positive results.
A kombi driver, Mr Motion Shambamuto, operating along one of the newly designated routes, said the system, though still new, is beginning to make sense.
“At first it was confusing for everyone, even for us drivers, but now things are starting to fall into place. There is less fighting for passengers, and we know exactly where we are supposed to operate from. If this is managed well, it can bring real order,” he admitted.
Yet, even as some see promise, others feel left behind.
Among the most vocal critics are residents from Dangamvura, who argue that the new rank allocated to their route is, not only inconvenient, but dangerous.
There is an uproar from Dangamvura residents on social media against the city fathers, accusing them of poor planning.
Mr Robson Gutu said: “As Dangamvura residents we are appealing for a relook into this contentious issue of ranks. The new rank is a dark place and far away from most people’s workplaces and schools. The place is best suited for long distance buses.”
Ms Caroline Mawoyo said, “Haaa, Dangamvura rank is far away. How did the Mutare City Council roll out this programme without consulting stakeholders? Imagine it is 9pm and you have to pass through all the dark spots to get to the rank?”
Another resident, Mr Shingie Kanougwere, said: “Everything else is okay, but Dangamvura should have been put at Mudzviti Rank where there are designated bays.”
Other residents were concerned about schoolchildren who will have to cross busy roads to get to their appropriate bus ranks when schools open.
“We should also consider schoolchildren crossing these busy roads to board a kombi to go home. Their safety should also be considered,” said Mr Allen Mvenge.
For many Dangamvura residents, commuting is not just about getting from Point A to Point B, it about navigating long days, tight schedules and, often, limited resources. Adding distance or perceived danger to that equation can significantly alter daily life.
As dusk falls, these concerns become more pronounced.
A vendor, Mrs Charity Muriro, who closes her stall late in the evening, described the anxiety of walking to the new rank.
“You start thinking about the distance, the darkness, and everything. Before, it was closer, it felt safer. Now you have to be more vigilant,” she said.
Despite the dissatisfaction, a planned protest against the changes failed to materialise.
On Monday, word spread among residents that they would gather at Mutare Hall on Tuesday at 9am to voice their concerns.
However, when the time came, the space remained largely empty.
For now, the city sits in a state of adjustment.
Commuters are learning new routes. Drivers are settling into new systems.
Touts, once dominant figures in the transport ecosystem, appear to be losing their grip as formal structures take shape.
