Bus blown up in suspected route war attack

A fierce battle for passengers among bus operators in Chipinge took a dangerous turn early Friday morning when a Big Game Motors bus was allegedly attacked with a suspected explosive at an illegal bus terminus.

The incident occurred at around 3am at Chinheya Business Centre, leaving the bus extensively damaged and raising fresh concerns over escalating violence among rival transport operators competing for passengers.

According to police, the bus driver and conductor were asleep inside the vehicle when an unidentified person allegedly approached and threw a detonator towards the rear wheels.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying investigations were underway.

"We are investigating a case of attempted murder and malicious damage to property which happened on August 21, 2026. A bus belonging to Big Game was parked at Chinheya Business Centre. On the same day around 3am, a person went to the bus and threw a detonator on the rear wheels. The bus driver and conductor were sleeping inside the bus at the back," Nyathi said.

"The driver and conductor managed to escape safely. The bus was damaged at the back. We are now investigating the motive behind the attack," he said.

The suspect is expected to face charges of attempted murder and malicious damage to property.

The blast reportedly caused significant damage to the bus's rear section, including the right rear tyre and axle, leaving the vehicle grounded.

No arrests had been made by the time of publication.

The attack has renewed concerns over violent competition among bus operators in Chipinge, particularly over lucrative routes connecting the town to Harare, Bulawayo, Kwekwe and other destinations.

Residents said the explosion sent shockwaves through parts of Chipinge and highlighted growing concerns over the safety of passengers and transport workers.

One resident, who declined to be named, alleged that the attack could have been linked to rivalry between competing operators.

"Those were explosives that we suspect were planted on the bus by a crew from a rival company. It happened around 3am. There was a loud bang that echoed across most parts of Chipinge town. They are fighting over routes," the resident said.

However, the alleged involvement of a rival bus operator has not been established by police.

The incident has also intensified calls for authorities to restore order at bus termini and clamp down on illegal transport operations and touting.

Commuters fear that the escalating rivalry could eventually result in fatalities if the violence continues.

"It is very frightening. Today it is a bus that has been blown up, but tomorrow it could be passengers caught in the middle," said Tawanda Mlambo, a regular traveller between Chipinge and Harare.

"We are the ones who suffer because of these fights. Bus operators are supposed to compete professionally, not use violence. Authorities must intervene before lives are lost," he said.

Another commuter, Memory Chitima, said the situation was making passengers increasingly uncomfortable.

"We just want to travel peacefully and reach our destinations safely. What is happening now resembles a jungle where everyone is fighting for passengers. The Government, police and transport authorities must bring sanity to the sector," she said.

Shepherd Marimo, who frequently travels to Bulawayo, said the violence was damaging the reputation of the town's transport industry.

"These operators need to understand that passengers are not commodities to fight over. There must be proper regulation at bus ranks and harsh punishment for those who intimidate competitors or endanger the public," he said.

Some commuters also pointed to the role of touts, who they said aggressively compete for passengers on behalf of different operators.

Rutendo Mukome said confrontations between touts were becoming increasingly common.

"The touts often provoke each other and sometimes fights break out in full view of passengers, including women and children. Authorities must deal with these illegal activities because they create a breeding ground for bigger crimes," she said.

The latest attack has put the spotlight on the need for stronger regulation of bus termini and passenger transport operations in Chipinge.

Police investigations are continuing to establish who carried out the attack, the motive behind it and whether it was connected to competition between transport operators.