Truth is often difficult to accept, especially when it challenges our beliefs or way of life. It is a force that unsettles everyone, from ordinary citizens to the ruling elite. How we handle uncomfortable truths reveals our character, and in authoritarian states, the response is often fear and suppression.
When truth threatens the powerful, the consequences can be severe: abductions, brutal killings, and unlawful detention become tools of control.
In less than three weeks, Tanzania will hold a general election. As a first-time voter, I find little meaning in this process. The campaign, amplified through social and traditional media, offers no convincing vision for the nation’s future.
The incumbents’ rhetoric does not promise long-term, positive change for the majority. This leads to a fundamental question: Can genuine justice and social development ever flourish under a climate of fear?
Cruelty is not politics. The urge to silence dissent stems from a loss of moral compass. Authoritarian systems, regardless of location, operate on the same principles: they demand obedience, instil fear, and promote the dangerous idea that some lives matter less than others. Questioning authority is framed as disloyalty, and cruelty is normalised as a necessary duty.
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History shows that ruling by fear creates a weak foundation for leadership. Suppressing truth is a temporary fix; the human spirit will always seek alternatives. When the media is censored, people turn to social platforms, which carry their own risks of misinformation. While propaganda may seem effective, it is ultimately uncontrollable.
Tanzania, like many developing nations, needs infrastructure, functional hospitals, quality schools, and industries. But these cannot be built at the cost of human dignity. When journalists are censored, activists silenced, and youth self-censor online, true development stalls. Fear is expensive—it costs a nation its innovation, investment, and imagination. Silencing one critic means silencing a thousand ideas that could build a better country.
The link between human rights and development is real. Nations that protect free expression and the rule of law attract creativity and trust. Those relying on intimidation breed only corruption and dependency.
We are heading into an election with no strong opposition to hold the ruling elite accountable. While other parties have put forward candidates, they are barely known and face unimaginable hurdles. This poses a critical question: Are we preparing for another five years of zero accountability?
States that rule by fear may appear strong but are fragile internally. Their power depends on the loyalty of a few, which can vanish when public fear fades. Corruption, poor living conditions, and a new, digitally-native generation unwilling to accept censorship slowly erode such systems.
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When a government uses force to maintain control, it loses trust—even from within its own ranks, as we have seen with prominent politicians denouncing their party.
Tanzania is a peaceful nation with strong people working for a better future. While people do not seek violence, sometimes it seems to be the only language elites understand. Yet cruelty never lasts.
Every oppressive act contains the seed of its own end. Authoritarians fall not when people become brave, but when they stop believing the rulers are invincible. When that belief shatters, fear disappears.
In every nation’s story, there comes a point when silence becomes unbearable—and that is when change begins. We all share the purpose of building a nation where everyone, from every corner and walk of life, can enjoy its fruits.
This can only become a reality if the government ensures transparency, upholds human rights, and embraces democratic virtues, allowing every citizen to play their part.
Sigyfrid Masawe is a Development Enthusiast based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He’s available at sigychrs@gmail.com. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
