Once touted as a shining beacon of political stability in East Africa, Tanzania is increasingly seen as a nation grappling with a repressive and manipulative form of governance that undermines its purported democratic evolution.
After decades of hard-fought gains, including the establishment of a multiparty democracy in 1992, the country is witnessing a concerning backslide.
The primary culprits? An increasing culture of sycophancy and rampant impunity within its political landscape threatens to unravel the democratic tapestry woven over the past 30 years.
Manipulative Transitions: The Façade of Progress
The political narrative in Tanzania has been deliberately crafted to present an image of stability and democracy. However, the underlying reality reveals a state prioritising the consolidation of power over authentic democratic growth.
Instead of fostering a transparent and inclusive political system, the Tanzanian government has opted for tactics that manipulate the narrative—using repressive measures to ensure that opposition voices are marginalized while promoting a façade of reform to appease international observers.
The current administration under President Samia Suluhu Hassan initially sparked hope that it would diverge from the more authoritarian path taken by her predecessor, the late John Magufuli. However, actions taken during her presidency suggest a continuity of the same practices under a more diplomatically polished guise.
The reappointment of Paul Makonda, a controversial figure previously known for his rights abuses and misuse of power, as Regional Commissioner for Arusha highlights the manipulative nature of Tanzania’s political transition.
Despite Makonda’s tarnished record, which includes targeting journalists and critics with impunity, his return to a significant governmental role suggests that loyalty is more valued than accountability.
Such moves reinforce the perception that the administration focuses less on advancing democratic values and more on maintaining a loyal base, irrespective of individuals’ histories or impacts on public welfare.
It reflects a deliberate attempt to control the narrative by rewarding loyalists while ignoring the voices calling for accountability and true reform.
Sycophancy as a Political Strategy
Sycophancy as a political strategy has become an embedded feature of Tanzanian politics, with political leaders and public figures bending backwards to align with the interests of those at the top. This culture of blind loyalty has made political figures more concerned with appeasing power rather than advocating for meaningful change.
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Figures like Mwijaku, a vocal media socialite and praise singer for President Samia, embody this culture of sycophancy. The Man has used his platform to heap praise on the government, creating an echo chamber that amplifies government propaganda while drowning out the critical voices of civil society, activists, and ordinary Tanzanians.
Instead of challenging the government to address key issues affecting the populace—such as unemployment, corruption, and freedom of expression—Mwijaku and similar figures contribute to the misleading portrayal of the administration as a progressive force.
This culture is not only counterproductive but actively harmful to democratic transition. When political critique is replaced with sycophantic praise, the government lacks the feedback necessary to enact meaningful change. More concerning is that President Samia has seemingly endorsed this culture.
By aligning herself with such praise singers, she implicitly sends the message that loyalty is more rewarding than constructive criticism or independent thought. This stance has done little to assuage fears that her administration is not genuinely committed to promoting an open and pluralistic society.Â
The Repressive Machinery of Governance
Behind the façade of democratic transition lies a machinery of repression that ensures power remains firmly in the hands of the ruling elite. While the language of reform is used for external consumption, on the ground, the state has employed repressive tactics to maintain control and project an illusion of stability.
The reappointment of Paul Makonda is emblematic of the government’s disregard for accountability. Makonda’s tenure as Dar es Salaam’s Regional Commissioner was marked by high-profile abuses of power, including the intimidation of media and civil rights activists. He seems to have been rehabilitated without ever facing any form of accountability for his actions.
This signals to other political actors that abuses, provided they are committed in the name of loyalty to the ruling class, will be forgiven, if not rewarded.
Under President Samia, there has been a continuation of press restrictions, and critical journalists have been harassed or silenced. Media outlets that challenge the government’s narrative still face threats, ensuring that dissenting voices are either coerced into silence or driven underground.
This approach to controlling information flow is key to the government’s manipulative narrative of a stable and transitioning democracy. By controlling the media, the government ensures that citizens hear only one story—the story of a progressive administration, even when the actions of those in power tell a different tale.
The judiciary, another crucial pillar of democracy, remains under pressure from political influence. Without true independence, the judiciary is unable to effectively check executive power.
This erosion of judicial autonomy ensures that political elites are protected from repercussions, further entrenching a culture of impunity. When figures like Makonda are reappointed, despite their controversial past, it highlights that the judiciary lacks the capacity to hold public officials accountable, which undermines public trust in the entire governance system.
Questioning Political Stability in East Africa
The manipulative and repressive tactics employed by the Tanzanian government also raise broader concerns about political stability and democratic progress across East Africa.
Tanzania’s portrayal of itself as a stable nation undergoing democratic transition serves as a dangerous precedent for the region. The image of stability is achieved not through democratic consolidation, but through systematic repression and manipulation of public perception.
East Africa has been home to several countries grappling with similar issues of democratic backsliding masked as stability. Uganda, for instance, under President Yoweri Museveni, has also maintained an image of political order while systematically suppressing opposition and dissent.
Kenya, though often touted as a regional democratic success, still struggles with electoral manipulation and the suppression of dissenting voices. The shared narrative across these nations raises a critical question: what is the true nature of political stability in East Africa?
If stability is maintained at the cost of civil liberties, political freedom, and meaningful democratic processes, then it is inherently fragile and unsustainable.
Towards Genuine Democratic Progress
Significant systemic reforms are required for Tanzania, and indeed the broader East African region, to move towards genuine democratic progress.
First and foremost, there must be a departure from the culture of sycophancy that currently underpins political appointments and rewards within the government. Political leaders should be selected based on merit and their ability to serve the public, not based on their loyalty to the ruling party or leadership.
President Samia must also move beyond symbolic gestures and take meaningful action to distance her administration from individuals like Paul Makonda and praise singers like Mwijaku. This would send a clear message that accountability and integrity are more important than loyalty in Tanzanian politics.
Strengthening civil society is also crucial. Civil society organizations and grassroots advocacy groups must be empowered to act without fear of repression or censorship. These groups are vital for holding the government accountable and ensuring that political processes remain transparent and inclusive.
Moreover, the independence of the judiciary must be restored. A truly independent judiciary is a cornerstone of democracy, capable of ensuring that no individual, no matter how powerful, is above the law. This reform is crucial for rebuilding public trust in Tanzanian institutions.
Conclusion
Tanzania’s political transition has proven to be more manipulative and repressive than meaningfully progressive. The government’s reliance on repressive tactics to project an image of stability and democratic transition reveals an underlying fragility in the country’s political system.
Figures like Paul Makonda and praise singers like Mwijaku are symptomatic of a broader problem—a system that values loyalty over accountability, manipulation over transparency, and repression over genuine democratic participation.
The current trajectory raises significant concerns not only for Tanzania but for political stability and democratic progress across East Africa. If stability in the region is defined by the suppression of dissent and the manipulation of democratic processes, then its future remains uncertain and potentially volatile.
Genuine progress will require not just rhetoric but concrete actions that embrace accountability, restore judicial independence, and protect freedoms of speech and assembly.
It is time for Tanzanians, and indeed all Africans, to demand a version of stability that is rooted in democratic values and public empowerment—not one maintained through the manipulation of power and repression of opposition.
Only by dismantling the façade and addressing the systemic issues can Tanzania hope to achieve the kind of stable and meaningful democratic progress that will be truly beneficial for its people and serve as a model for the region.
