Switzerland supports Zimbabwe by Bus book and exhibition
The Embassy supported the launch of Zimbabwe by Bus, a book and exhibition showcasing the stories, experiences and creativity of everyday life on Zimbabwe’s buses.
Held at Friendship Bench in Harare, the event brought together writers, artists, photographers, cultural practitioners and members of the public to explore the rich tapestry of life carried daily on Zimbabwe’s buses.
Officially opening the exhibition and launching the book, Ambassador Stéphane Rey reflected on the striking contrast between public transport experiences in Switzerland and Zimbabwe.
“In Switzerland, when public transport is a minute late, people become philosophers of suffering. In Zimbabwe, buses carry not just passengers – they carry life itself,” he remarked.
The publication captures the bus as much more than a means of transport. Through personal stories, humour, poetry, photography and visual art, Zimbabwe by Bus portrays buses as spaces of encounter, resilience and community. As Ambassador Rey noted, the Zimbabwean bus is “a confessional, a theatre, a church, a marketplace, a debating chamber, a love story, a survival strategy – and sometimes, judging from the stories, an extreme sport.”
The exhibition complements the book by bringing these journeys to life through images and artistic interpretations that showcase the rhythm of Zimbabwean daily life. Visitors were invited to experience the sights, sounds and emotions of bus travel – from bustling ranks and long roads to conversations between strangers, music, laughter and shared experiences.
The Embassy commends Irene Staunton and Isabella Matambanadzo for their outstanding work in coordinating both the publication and exhibition, as well as the many writers, photographers and artists whose contributions have preserved an important part of Zimbabwe’s social history and cultural identity.
A special highlight of the evening was the recognition of the Matambanadzo family, whose own bus journey inspired part of this remarkable project and whose story reflects the lived experiences at the heart of the book.
The event was fittingly hosted at Friendship Bench, recently awarded the 2025–2026 King Baudouin Foundation Africa Prize. Ambassador Rey noted that both Friendship Bench and Zimbabwe by Bus share a common purpose: listening to people’s stories and amplifying voices that are often overlooked.
The Embassy of Switzerland is honoured to have supported this initiative as part of its commitment to promoting culture, dialogue and creative expression. Projects such as Zimbabwe by Bus remind us that stories matter, art matters and culture has the power to connect people across backgrounds and experiences.