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I am now used to daily Commuting to cumpus


25 February 2026  ·  2 min read
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I am now used to daily Commuting to cumpus
The Commuting Struggle Is Real When I got accepted into the University of Zimbabwe, my parents couldn’t afford the $200+ needed for off-campus accommodation. So, by default, I had to commute — every single day. The cost? Roughly $5 a day. $25 a week. Under $100 a month — that’s what made sense financially for my family. But emotionally? It’s draining. Late Lectures, Lost Hours Every day, I had to take two lifts. Most mornings were chaotic. Sometimes I arrived 30 minutes late to class — and the lecture was halfway through. I’d sit at the back, trying to catch up while the lecturer was already deep in Section C. What really used to pain me? The 4 hours I lost each day commuting. I used to think: “What could I be doing with these hours? Studying? Building a project? Learning something useful?” That thought haunted me. Then I Had a Eureka Moment Instead of just sitting idle in the kombi, or dozing off, I started using that time. I began listening to: Self-help books Sermons and teachings Podcasts about tech and personal growth It wasn’t a perfect solution. But it saved me mentally. I turned kombi time into learning time. The Lunch-Time Divide Another real struggle? Lunch. At UZ, very few students carry lunch boxes. You’ll see “vana ve mbinga” with ice creams and chicken from Inscore shops. Then you have “the rest of us” — the mbombera squad — surviving on $1 blues-box smoked sausage and Bakers Inn chips. Some days? Even that $1 was too much for me. I watched students who lived on campus walk to DUCs for a proper meal. Those who stayed nearby? They’d pop home for lunch and be back in class on time. But for commuters like us? We stay put, hungry, trying to focus. Final Thoughts To all the students who commute daily — I see you. I respect you. I am you. You’re not lazy. You’re adapting. You’re showing up every day, even when it’s hard. Keep going. One day, this struggle will be your story of strength.
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