THE DANCE OF HYPOCRISY: HOW ONE POLITICIAN UNDERMINED DEMOCRACY

In the world of politics, we often see leaders talking about working together and finding common ground. But there is another side to politics that people don’t always see – a darker side where leaders say one thing and do another. This is called hypocrisy, and it’s something we are seeing with Sengezo Tshabangu. He has become a major figure in politics, but the way he got there is far from the usual story of hard work and earning people’s votes. Instead, his rise to power looks more like a story of lies and trickery.

Tshabangu’s rise to the top is a perfect example of political gamesmanship. He didn’t get his position by winning the support of the people. Instead, he used tricks to push out real, elected leaders like Members of Parliament, senators, councillors, and even mayors. These people were chosen by the voters, but Tshabangu found a way to remove them. His actions allowed him and his friends, who were rejected by the voters, to take their places. This wasn’t just a simple move for power – it was a full-blown attack on democracy. It was like playing a dirty game of chess, where Tshabangu made sure to cheat his way to the top.

What makes Tshabangu’s actions even worse is how ironic it all is. He has often criticized Nelson Chamisa, the former leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), for imposing candidates on people. Tshabangu claimed that Chamisa’s way of picking candidates was unfair. But in a twist of fate, Tshabangu ended up getting his position in a very similar way. He didn’t earn it – he was put there through imposition. He had strong support from people in the executive, parliament, the judiciary, and even state security agents. All these groups helped Tshabangu and his allies for their own gain and to help the ruling Zanu PF party.

The problem with Tshabangu’s way of doing things is that it shows a bigger issue in politics. Hypocrisy, which is when people say one thing but do the opposite, is never a good way to lead. Even if people like Tshabangu believe that their actions are justified because they have a goal in mind, their arguments fall apart when you look at them closely. Hypocrisy destroys trust. It weakens the idea of democracy and only helps people who use it to get ahead, leaving everyone else worse off.

What Tshabangu has done goes beyond just causing trouble in the short term. By taking away leaders who were chosen by the people and replacing them with those who were rejected, he has set a dangerous example. It shows that democracy can be destroyed, not just by violent actions, but by lies and deceit. This sends a message that the will of the people doesn’t matter, as long as you know how to play the game well enough to get ahead.

As we look at what has happened, it might seem like Tshabangu, his allies, and the Zanu PF party have won. But the real loser here is democracy itself. By ignoring the will of the people and breaking the rules of fair representation, they have done serious harm to the idea of democratic governance. The principles of accountability and fair representation have been completely ignored in their quest for power.

This story of how Tshabangu has risen to power through hypocrisy and trickery should serve as a warning. It makes us think about the kind of politics we support and the ways we let our leaders rise to power. As long as hypocrisy is a tool that politicians use, democracy will always be at risk. It will remain fragile and open to being used by people who care more about their own goals than about serving the people they are supposed to represent.