Where Are the Zimbabwe Kombis Minibuses?

In Zimbabwe, kombis — privately owned minibuses — have long powered daily life in Harare and Bulawayo.

Kombis are shared-ride minibuses that operate without fixed timetables but follow well-known routes. Popular across urban and rural Zimbabwe, they are cheap, flexible, and often crowded. Passengers pay the conductor while the driver navigates bustling streets.

The term kombi comes from the classic Volkswagen Type 2 minibus, nicknamed the “VW Kombi.” This model became popular in Zimbabwe and across Africa in the mid-20th century for its practicality. Over time, “kombi” became a generic name for any minibus used for public transport, regardless of brand.

Kombis waiting for passengers at a rank in Harare.

The Role of Kombis in Zimbabwean Life

Urban commuters in Harare and Bulawayo often choose between the state-run Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) buses and privately operated kombis. Kombis dominate because of their flexibility, frequent service, and ability to reach neighborhoods that larger buses skip.

Unlike formal public transport, kombis rarely publish schedules. Routes evolve based on passenger demand, traffic, and local knowledge. Riders learn routes through experience or by asking conductors and fellow passengers. Kombis stop when hailed and at kombi ranks — informal hubs where people wait to board.

Everyday life: students, workers, and families sharing kombis.

Kombis are more than transport — they’re a social space where strangers share routes, jokes, music, and culture.

Impact of COVID-19 and the Rise of ZUPCO

In March 2020, Zimbabwe banned private public transport, including kombis, during the COVID-19 lockdown. Only ZUPCO buses were legally allowed to operate. ZUPCO, founded in 1980 after independence, is state-owned and was positioned as the main provider of public transport.

Despite the ban, some private kombis continued operating unofficially because of demand for flexible routes and faster service. Many Zimbabweans still rely on kombis where ZUPCO routes do not reach or when schedules fail to meet commuters’ needs.

Despite regulation, private kombis still serve many commuters post-lockdown.

Kombis remain a symbol of resilience and ingenuity — adapting to shifting rules, fuel shortages, and economic pressures while staying essential to millions of Zimbabweans.

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Hugh Masekela was a world-renowned trumpeter musician and political leader who released over 40 albums.

Masekela trumpeter musical style was influenced by Miles Davis. Masekela performed at the Monterey Pop Festival alongside The Who. U2 front-man Bono said playing with Masekela was one of the highlights of his career.

Trumpeter African Musician Hugh Masekela 20 Years of Freedom

Hugh Masekela was born 75 years ago in the town of Witbank, South Africa in 1939. Masekela began to hone his, now signature, Afro-Jazz sound in the late 1950s. In 1960, at the age of 21, he left South Africa to begin what would be 30 years in exile from the land of his birth.

On arrival in New York he enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music. This coincided with a golden era of jazz music and the young Hugh Masekela immersed himself in the New York jazz scene where nightly he watched greats like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Mingus and Max Roach.

Under the tutelage of Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong, Hugh was encouraged to develop his own unique style, feeding off African rather than American influences – his debut album, released in 1963, was entitled Trumpet Africaine.

In 1967 Hugh performed at the Monterey Pop Festival alongside Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Ravi Shankar, The Who and Jimi Hendrix. In 1968, his instrumental single ‘Grazin’ in the Grass’ went to Number One on the American pop charts and was a worldwide smash, elevating Hugh onto the international stage

In 1990 Hugh returned home, following the unbanning of the ANC and the release of Nelson Mandela – an event anticipated in Hugh’s anti-apartheid anthem ‘Bring Home Nelson Mandela’ (1986) which had been a rallying cry around the world.

In June 2010 Masekela opened the FIFA Soccer World Cup Kick-Off Concert to a global audience and performed at the event’s Opening Ceremony in Soweto’s Soccer City. The US Virgin Islands proclaimed ‘Hugh Masekela Day’ in March 2011, not long after Hugh joined U2 on stage during the Johannesburg leg of their 360 World Tour. U2 Bono described meeting and playing with Hugh as one of the highlights of his career.

According to his biography, Masekela is currently using his global reach to spread the word about heritage restoration in Africa – a topic that remains very close to his heart.

Masekela says “My biggest obsession is to show Africans and the world who the people of Africa really are,” Masekela confides – and it’s this commitment to his home continent that has propelled him forward since he first began playing the trumpet.

February and March 2015, South African musical legends Hugh Masekela and Vusi Mahlesela embarked on a North American musical tour, 20 Years of Freedom. The tour celebrated the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s social equality and the end of apartheid.

About Trumpeter Musician Hugh Masekela 

Birth name
Hugh Ramapolo Masekela.

Born
April 4, 1939 in Emalahleni, South Africa.

Died
January 23, 2018 at age 78 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Genres played
Jazz, Mbaqanga and Afropop.

Instruments played
Trumpet, flugel horn, trombone, cornet and singer.

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Algerian Chorba 'dess or Soupe de lentilles or Lentil Soup

The African Country of Algeria has the second largest French-speaking population in the world.

Chorba 'dess or Soupe de lentilles or Lentil Soup



Ingredients

1 pound lamb meat thinly sliced

1 large white onion, finely chopped

2 teaspoons good quality ground coriander

1 cup dried lentils

2 large potatoes diced

2 large carrots diced

8 cups of water

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Add all ingredients to a large pot simmer until vegetables are tender for about an hour. Serve with rice.

Guinea-Bissau: A Sanctuary for Green Sea Turtles

Did you know that many African islands are known as "Turtle Islands"? These remarkable places serve as critical nesting grounds for green sea turtles, and one of the most significant of these is found in Guinea-Bissau, a small West African country. The João Viera-Poilão Marine Park here hosts the largest green sea turtle nesting site on the entire Atlantic coast of Africa. However, despite the country's critical role in turtle conservation, challenges remain in ensuring their protection.

A Rich History and Biodiversity

Guinea-Bissau may be small, but its cultural and natural significance is immense. Just south of Senegal, this coastal nation is home to the Bijagos Archipelago, a group of 88 islands, 23 of which are inhabited. These islands have been a protected Biosphere Reserve since 1996, making them a rare example of an African marine ecosystem that is internationally recognized for conservation.

The country’s history is marked by its connections to the Mali Empire and its later involvement in the Portuguese slave trade. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the interior was explored, met with significant resistance from indigenous populations. Today, this heritage is reflected in the local languages and a unique dialect of Crioulo.

The Green Sea Turtle’s Epic Journey

Green sea turtles, which can grow up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) and weigh more than 300 kilograms (700 pounds), are one of the ocean’s most awe-inspiring creatures. Every year, they make long migratory journeys to the Bijagos Archipelago, traveling as much as 2,600 kilometers (1,600 miles) to reach their nesting grounds in Guinea-Bissau. This amazing migration highlights the importance of preserving these areas, where the turtles return year after year to lay their eggs.

As they nest, green sea turtles face significant threats—from human interference to habitat destruction. This is why Guinea-Bissau has strict laws that protect these endangered creatures, making it illegal to harm, collect, or kill green sea turtles. These laws are part of a broader effort to maintain the country’s biodiversity, including the protected marine areas of João Viera-Poilão and Orango.

 

Guinea-Bissau is a small coastal West African country

The Bijagos Archipelago: A Haven for Wildlife

In addition to its turtle populations, the Bijagos Archipelago is home to another environmental treasure: migratory birds. The archipelago ranks as the second most important site for migratory birds in West Africa, after the Banc d'Arguin in Mauritania. These birds find sanctuary in the Community Urok Marine Protected Area, where they breed and overwinter.

Today, these islands are gaining attention from tourists, particularly those interested in wildlife and beach tourism. However, as tourism increases, so does the challenge of balancing economic development with the need to preserve these fragile ecosystems.

Green Sea Turtle Facts You Should Know

1. Size and Strength: Green sea turtles can grow up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) and weigh over 300 kilograms (700 pounds), making them the largest of the hard-shell sea turtles.

2. Longevity: These turtles have an impressive lifespan of 80 years or more in the wild, making them true survivors of the oceans.

3. Diving Skills: Green sea turtles can stay underwater for up to five hours, although their typical feeding dives last only five minutes or less.

The Ongoing Fight for Conservation

Despite the legal protections in place, green sea turtles in Guinea-Bissau still face numerous threats. Habitat destruction, climate change, and illegal poaching continue to jeopardize their future. As consumers, we can play a role by supporting sustainable tourism and advocating for stronger environmental protections worldwide. Guinea-Bissau's turtle sanctuaries are more than just a natural wonder—they are a crucial piece of the global conservation puzzle.

Landmines in Angola Africa, there are no safe steps, the Sarajevo of Africa, Angola Bie Province landmines

Kuito, a city located in the Bie Province of Angola, has been heavily affected by landmines due to the country's long history of armed conflict, particularly the Angolan Civil War that lasted from 1975 to 2002. Landmines pose a significant threat to the local population and have severe consequences for people living in and around Kuito.

Kuito is the distressed but slowly restoring capital of Bie Province. Bié is a province of Angola located on the Bié Plateau in the central part of Angola. Parts of Angola are contaminated with landmines as a result of four decades of almost continuous warfare, making it the most mine-affected country in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the most mined countries in the world. An anti-personnel weapon is one primarily used to inflict death or cause major bodily injury to people. Anti-personnel landmines are explosive devices designed to explode when a person gets near the device or steps on the device.

During the Angolan Civil War, landmines were widely used as a military strategy by various factions involved in the conflict. Both government forces and rebel groups laid extensive minefields in and around Kuito and other areas of the country to impede the movement of enemy forces.

Angola Bie Province landmines

Kuito is still surrounded by rings of landmines. Situated in central Angola, Kuito used to be called Silva Porto, taking its name from Francisco Ferreira da Silva, who was Bie's colonial commander in chief and came from the northern Portuguese city of Porto.

Francisco Ferreira da Silva founded Kuito in 1845. Kuito, the capital of Bie, is a city destroyed by war. Known as the "Sarajevo of Africa", Kuito has been reduced to rubble after being besieged by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) rebels for almost 20 years. UNITA was led by Jonas Savimbi and was supported by the country’s largest ethnic group, the Ovimbundu. The Ovimbundu, also known as the Umbundu people inhabit the Bié Plateau in Angola.

 

Landmine photo by DFAT photo library

The late Diana Princess of Wales visited the Angolan province of Bie in 1997 in support of the Halo Trust, not long before her death in a car crash in Paris. Pictures of Diana wearing protective gear as she observed mine-clearing efforts by Halo in the towns of Huambo and Kuito helped draw the world's attention to the horrific ordeals of amputees and the suffering caused by landmines.

Parts of Angola are contaminated with mines as a result of four decades of almost continuous warfare, making it the most mine-affected country in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the most mined countries in the world. Some mines were put into place to discourage people from searching for food holding them captive and at the mercy of insurgents. Human rights groups have long alleged abuses against Angolan civilians.

Angola is one of Africa's leading oil producers, but most rural citizens still live on less than $1 a day making agriculture a vital need in order to survive. However, the presence of landmines creates a situation where rural citizens are dependent on food transported into the area. 

The Republic of Angola signed the Mine Ban Treaty on December 4, 1997 however, since 1994 Halo has removed and destroyed 21,300 anti personnel and anti tank mines so far with its efforts steadily moving out from the town center to areas farther afield. Anti-personnel landmines are explosive devices designed to explode when a person gets near the device or steps on the device.

Angola's lingering civil war, which broke out after it gained independence from Portugal officially ended in 2002. The Alvor Agreement signed on January 15, 1975, granted Angola independence from Portugal on November 11, 1975. Angola 27-year civil war killed and injured well over one million people.

To date, Kuito is still heavily contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance, which are remnants of war, such as bombs, grenades, and other explosives that did not detonate when deployed. These UXOs remain a serious threat to the local population, even long after the cessation of hostilities.

Kuito Landmines three facts

The late Diana Princess of Wales visited the Angolan province of Bie in 1997 in support of the Halo Trust.

Parts of Angola are contaminated with mines as a result of four decades of almost continuous warfare, making it the most mine-affected country in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the most mined countries in the world.

According to the HALO Trust, there are more than 620 minefields mapped and recorded in the eight provinces they currently operate in; Benguela, Bié, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Kuando Kubango, Kuanza Sul and Namibe.