Dar es Salaam– Several motorcycle taxi riders in Dar es Salaam gathered at CBE, Bibi Titi Road, on August 5, 2026, to protest what they describe as an exorbitant fine imposed by the city when they drop off clients who request rides through ride-hailing apps.

“We pay fees to ride-hailing companies and comply with all the terms and conditions of the job. But every time we go to pick up a passenger, we end up being arrested on allegations of ‘wrong parking.’ The officers take us to the City Council offices, where we are required to pay Sh70,000,” one of the drivers told an Ayo TV reporter at the scene.

“We are tired of this situation. If we are not allowed to operate in the city centre, then the authorities should instruct ride-hailing companies to suspend their services in that area so that we do not continue incurring losses,” he continued.

A police officer could be seen trying to organize the riders at the busy junction in the city centre as they continued to air their grievances. The impromptu gathering happened after one of the drivers was stopped and allegedly beaten by city officials, with his motorcycle being seized. This caused fellow riders to gather in his defence.

“They are harassing us. Passengers request our services online, and we take them to the city centre and drop them off, but we are followed as if we are criminals. What kind of work are we supposed to do?”

The city regulation sets that only motorcycles with a special permit may enter the city centre. However, the rise of ride-hailing platforms — which require riders to complete passenger trips to maintain good standing on the app, has created a new challenge to the existing framework.