Escalating turf wars between long-distance passenger transport operators have taken a violent turn following an alleged explosive attack on a Bigame Motors bus at the Chipinge long-distance rank.
Eyewitnesses and rival operators allege that Inter Africa marshals have been bullying Bigame Motors and other smaller transport operators through physical intimidation, rank touting, blockades, and alleged sabotage to control passenger loads.
Passengers have voiced growing outrage over the aggressive tactics used by the marshals, which they say put commuters directly in harm's way.
"You cannot even choose which bus to board peacefully anymore," said Tendai Moyo, a frequent commuter traveling to Mutare. "The Inter Africa marshals grab your luggage by force, pull you around, and harass anyone who tries to walk toward a rival bus like Bigame. It feels like a war zone instead of a bus station."
Another traveler, Sarah Dhliwayo, echoed similar safety fears after witnessing recent clashes. "They don't care about passenger safety at all. Last week at Chiredzi rank, marshals were shoving people around and shouting threats right in front of families with young children. It is completely out of control."
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Bigame Motors crew members reportedly face harassment not only at the Chipinge rank, but also at Chiredzi and Mutare, where operators allege that Inter Africa marshals have attempted to disrupt their operations and interfere with passenger boarding. One Bigame Motors crew member noted that the harassment has become a persistent issue, with crews regularly intimidated on lucrative routes.
According to eyewitnesses and rank marshals, the dispute intensified following a heated altercation over departure schedules. Shortly afterwards, an improvised explosive device was allegedly thrown into or placed beneath a Bigame Motors bus parked near the terminal. No fatalities were reported, although several people sustained minor injuries in the ensuing chaos.
Rival operators have accused police of failing to act on repeated complaints involving alleged assaults, threats, and harassment at the ranks. Bigame Motors operators stated they had reported multiple cases under references RRB689544, RRB6895943, RRB6895948, and RRB6895919, claiming no official action has been taken.
Operators claim that more than a dozen dockets involving alleged intimidation and assaults by touts have remained unattended over the past six months. Rank marshals have also alleged that some enforcement personnel receive kickbacks to overlook traffic violations, route disputes, and violence involving favored operators claims that could not be independently verified.
Passenger groups are calling for the deployment of a specialized task force from outside the district to restore order at the affected ranks.
When contacted for comment, police spokespersons stated that investigations into transport-related disputes are ongoing, denying any allegations of corruption, bias, or shielding specific operators from investigation.
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