Tanzania, Sept. 7 -- Morogoro/Lindi. The moment a long-distance bus pulls into a designated stop, passengers move with a sense of urgency.

Some head straight for the toilets. Others make a dash for food stalls, scanning menus and prices before joining queues.

A few remain on board, wary that stepping off could mean being left behind.

For passengers travelling hundreds of kilometres between Dar es Salaam and other parts of Tanzania, the stop is supposed to provide a welcome break from the long journey.

Instead, for many, it has become a race against the clock.

An investigation by The Citizen, conducted between May and August 2026 at Mkambarani in Morogoro and Nangurukuru along the Dar es Salaam-Lindi highway, has established a range o...