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Beyond Lying: Tanzanian Politicians Turn Misinformation into Absurd Performance

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, November 27th 2025 at 7:41 GMT by The Citizen

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“Beyond Lying: The Politics of the Absurd” – A Critical Overview

The Citizen’s recent op‑ed, “Beyond Lying: The Politics of the Absurd,” takes a hard‑nosed look at the way contemporary Tanzanian politicians deploy misinformation and absurdity to further their own ends. The author argues that “lying” is no longer a blunt tool of deceit; instead, it has evolved into a sophisticated performance of the absurd—statements that are so far removed from reality that they become laughable, yet still manage to manipulate public perception and silence dissent. In this article, we unpack the main arguments, the evidence presented, and the broader implications for democracy in Tanzania.

1. The Shift from Conventional Lies to the Absurd

The op‑ed opens by situating the discussion in the context of the 2025 general elections. While the author does not name specific politicians directly in the opening paragraphs, he cites a recent statement by a senior government minister who claimed that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) had “grown by 12 % in the last 48 hours.” The claim was later debunked by the Tanzanian National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and by a fact‑checking initiative spearheaded by the non‑governmental organization CheckItTanzania.

This example illustrates the author’s core claim: politicians are no longer merely telling lies; they are fabricating scenarios that are so exaggerated or nonsensical that they risk being exposed, yet still create an emotional reaction in the public. The author argues that the “politics of the absurd” is a deliberate strategy: when a claim is ridiculous, it may be dismissed as a joke, thereby sidestepping scrutiny.

2. The Role of Media and Social Media

The op‑ed points out that the Tanzanian media landscape—both traditional and online—has become an essential conduit for the spread of absurd claims. The author references a series of interviews with journalists at The Citizen itself and at the state‑owned Daily News, noting that both outlets often repeat the same political narrative without independent verification. In one anecdote, a reporter on a Daily News radio show recounted how she had to “re‑check” a minister’s statement on the spot, only to find the minister had been quoted from a foreign press release that had no basis in Tanzanian policy.

The article also links to a previous piece titled “Social Media Amplifies Political Spin in Tanzania” (The Citizen, 2023). That article argued that platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp are fertile ground for “viral” political claims because they lack editorial oversight. The current op‑ed echoes this sentiment, citing data from MobiTrack, a local research firm that found that 65 % of Tanzanian net‑users reported encountering misinformation in the past year.

3. Case Studies of Absurdity

To ground its arguments, the author draws on a series of concrete examples:

1. The “Zero‑Carbon Nation” Promise
   In a televised speech, the Minister of Environment claimed that Tanzania had achieved net‑zero carbon emissions by 2024. Fact‑checks by CheckItTanzania revealed that the country had only reduced emissions by 2 % that year. The claim was subsequently used by opposition parties to question the legitimacy of the ruling party’s environmental agenda.

2. The “One‑Stop Clinic” Campaign
   A government initiative announced that it would provide free, fully equipped medical clinics in every district within the next six months. The Ministry of Health later admitted that logistical challenges and budget constraints would delay implementation by at least two years. The initial statement was used to rally public support and to distract from an ongoing scandal involving the procurement of overpriced medical equipment.

3. The “National Talent Hunt” Lottery
   During the launch of a national talent competition, a senior politician promised that winners would receive a “starter kit” of 10 million Tanzanian shillings. Later, the National Lottery Board released a statement that the prize money would be significantly lower due to a revised budget. The disparity between the two figures fed a narrative that the ruling party was promising “more” than it could deliver, thereby bolstering the perception that “progress is always on the horizon.”

Each example illustrates a pattern: an initial claim that sounds grandiose or hopeful, followed by a later admission of inaccuracy or an inability to fulfill the promise. The author argues that the temporal gap between claim and reality creates a “political buffer” that allows politicians to deflect criticism by attributing failures to external factors.

4. The Socio‑Political Consequences

The op‑ed links to a research paper titled “Misinformation and Trust in Government: A Tanzanian Perspective” (International Journal of African Studies, 2024). That paper, cited in the article, shows that exposure to repeated absurd claims correlates with declining trust in both the media and public institutions. The author of the op‑ed notes that when citizens lose confidence in the sources that traditionally mediate information—such as the press, the Ministry, and independent watchdogs—they become more susceptible to propaganda and political manipulation.

The piece also alludes to a comparative study by the African Development Bank that found similar trends in other East African states, suggesting that the politics of the absurd is not unique to Tanzania but reflects a broader regional pattern of authoritarian governance.

5. Calls for Structural Reforms

In the concluding section, the author urges a multi‑pronged approach to counter the spread of absurd political claims:

• Independent Fact‑Checking Bodies: Strengthening the authority of NGOs like CheckItTanzania to publish real‑time corrections.
• Media Literacy Campaigns: Partnering with the Ministry of Education to embed media literacy in school curricula.
• Regulation of Social Media Platforms: Proposing legislation that obliges platforms to flag or remove content that is “definitively false.”
• Judicial Oversight: Encouraging the establishment of a parliamentary fact‑checking committee with the power to investigate and sanction politicians who repeatedly disseminate misinformation.

The op‑ed stresses that these reforms require a commitment from both the government and civil society, as well as a willingness among citizens to demand accountability.

6. Broader Context and Final Thoughts

The article is anchored in a larger conversation about democracy, governance, and the role of truth in a modern polity. It references a recent editorial in The New York Times titled “The Rise of Political Misinformation in Africa” (2025) to underscore that Tanzania is part of a global trend where leaders manipulate narratives for personal gain. The author draws a clear line from this global trend to the domestic political reality, arguing that without active resistance, the politics of the absurd will only grow more entrenched.

In essence, “Beyond Lying: The Politics of the Absurd” serves as both a diagnosis and a call to action. By cataloguing specific examples, linking to research studies, and outlining potential reforms, the op‑ed provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how lies evolve into absurdities and how society can counter them. It invites Tanzanian citizens, journalists, and policymakers alike to confront the reality that truth has become a contested commodity—one that demands vigilant defense.