Blind political loyalty is crippling democracy in Tanzania — Opinion

Politics in Tanzania is now less about policy and more about belonging – cheering for a team instead of striving for better governance. And when loyalty overshadows ideas, meaningful change disappears.

Once political identity becomes part of who we are – “I am CCM” or “I am Chadema” –  the goal shifts. People stop comparing policies and start defending their side while attacking the other. Political scientists call this affective polarisation: when people become emotionally attached to one camp and hostile toward another, no matter the issues.

Studies show that when this happens, support for equality, accountability, and the rule of law weakens.

In Tanzania, this is most visible in the long dominance of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Many citizens identify with the party out of loyalty to its name rather than its performance. Wearing party colours, chanting slogans, and attending rallies become symbols of belonging, not of debate or reform.

From Citizens to Fans

Why does this happen? Because political membership increasingly looks like fandom. Fans stay loyal even when their team sucks. They love the colours, the chants, and the stars more than the results. And they rarely criticise their own side, even when things go wrong.

When politics becomes fandom, activism turns into performance. Supporters cheer louder instead of asking harder questions.

But this blind loyalty doesn’t just weaken citizens – it blinds the rulers too. In trying to maintain the illusion of mass approval, leaders begin to lose sight of the truth.

In Tanzania, we’ve seen politicians pay people to attend rallies, dress them in party regalia, and transport them in lorries and buses – sometimes even including secondary school pupils below voting age. The goal is simple: to stage a spectacle of popularity, to look powerful and loved.

Yet the reality is sobering. In a country where most people still struggle to make ends meet, many will cheer for anything that brings a free meal or a few coins. These displays are not signs of genuine support but symptoms of desperation. They show how easily loyalty can be bought and how rulers mistake performance for legitimacy.

This illusion feeds itself. Leaders surrounded by paid crowds and endless praise stop hearing reality. They listen to applause, not hunger. And when they can no longer see the truth, they lose the ability to reform. Real change requires vision – the courage to face uncomfortable facts, not the comfort of staged approval.

Party switching has become another symptom of this culture. Politicians move between parties not for ideology but for survival – chasing influence, resources, or relevance. At the same time, few parties have clear policy differences, making membership more about identity than conviction.

CCM’s dominance reinforces this trend. Although Tanzania is a multiparty state, the playing field is far from level. Some analysts describe the system as “authoritarianism in disguise,” where loyalty matters more than reform.

The Culture of Uchawa

Then there is uchawa – sycophancy. The term comes from the Swahili word chawa, a louse that feeds on blood. Figuratively, it describes people who feed off power through uncritical praise.

In Tanzanian politics, Uchawa is the culture of flattering leaders in exchange for favours, protection, or visibility. Musicians, businesspeople, and public figures often rush to declare support for the ruling party, not because they believe in its policies, but because loyalty pays.

It goes beyond ordinary political support. It becomes a performance of devotion – singing praise songs, wearing party colours, appearing at rallies, and posting flattering messages online. The message is clear: to survive or advance, you must be seen cheering for those in power.

The darker side of uchawa is silence. Those who depend on proximity to power often refuse to speak up against human rights abuses, corruption, or politically motivated prosecutions. They look away because the perpetrators are “on their team.” Their duty becomes defending and praising their leaders, not holding them accountable.

This mindset has spread far beyond party offices. In Tanzania, carrying a CCM membership card can feel like carrying a passport to opportunity. It signals safety, access, and belonging. Many people join the party not out of conviction, but because those connections open doors – to jobs, contracts, or local government support.

There are countless small examples: drivers flying party flags to avoid fines, shopkeepers displaying portraits of leaders to attract goodwill from officials. These gestures reveal a larger truth – political loyalty has become a survival strategy in a system where dissent is risky and power is centralised.

We have arrived at a culture where loyalty is currency and silence is self-preservation.

When blind loyalty rules

When blind loyalty replaces debate, democracy suffers. Citizens become less critical. If your identity is tied to a party or leader, it’s hard to question them, even when projects stall or money disappears.

Flexibility fades, too. Reform requires openness to new ideas and alliances, but fan-like loyalty clings to the tribe. Politics loses its results-oriented focus. Success starts to mean staying in power, not improving lives.

Parties that prize unity over honesty suppress dissent and stagnate. Politics becomes theatre – passionate, noisy, but empty of progress.

Tanzania’s risk

In Tanzania, political identity is woven into history, patronage, and regional networks. CCM’s power rests not only on ideology but also on deep institutional reach and state resources. Opposition parties face financial and legal barriers, leaving many citizens frustrated or disillusioned.

When people feel the system is predetermined, membership becomes about belonging, not changing outcomes.

One survey found that while 77 percent of Tanzanians support elections, nearly a third see political parties as divisive and irrelevant. It reflects both faith in democracy and fatigue with partisan politics.

Reclaiming change

To move from fandom to reform, both citizens and leaders must refocus on performance and accountability. Civil society and independent institutions can help separate identity from evaluation, encouraging people to judge politics by results, not rhetoric.

Coalitions built around common issues like jobs, health, housing – can bridge party divides. Within parties, internal democracy and open debate can turn supporters into active participants, not just cheerleaders.

There are reasons for hope. Research across Africa shows that while identity and loyalty remain strong, performance still matters. The challenge for Tanzania is turning that potential into real, reform-driven participation.

Conclusion

When partisan identity dominates politics, membership becomes fandom: loyalty and belonging take precedence over ideas and results. In Tanzania, decades of dominance, weak opposition, and deep loyalties have made this culture hard to shake.

But democracy depends on citizens who can see – who question, challenge, and demand better. The true measure of loyalty is not how loudly we cheer, but how firmly we hold power to account.

The opinions and thoughts expressed in this article reflect only the author's views.

Mweha Msemo is a Tanzanian freelance journalist based in Dar es Salaam. He focuses on stories of marginalised communities, social justice, and digital rights. With a passion for amplifying unheard voices, his work highlights the lives and challenges of underrepresented groups, reflecting his commitment to raising awareness and fostering understanding.