Politics is not wrestling, keep drama at home

DAR ES SALAAM: AS Tanzania warms up for another democratic exercise, we feel it is high time to remind our beloved political parties and their candidates of one simple truth: Tanzanians want peacefull stop, period, the end.

We don’t want campaigns or elections that come wrapped in police sirens, public insults and WhatsApp group wars.

We want campaigns or elections that come with ideas, dignity and maturity. So, dear politicians, kindly campaign like you have met the law be- fore and preferably, respected it.

Again, our political parties and their candidates, kindly be reminded that signed up with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to follow specific routes.

The INEC clearly scheduled rallies so that Party A and Party B wouldn’t bump into each other like rival conductors at the same bus stop. Stick to your itinerary.

Don’t behave like the Biblical Yona and finally land in the hands of the Police, because we don’t want whales in our politics. And then, there is the youth wing of the online chaos brigade or our so-called social media warriors.

Armed with smartphones, fake names and enough creativity to rewrite the Constitution in emoji format, these young folks are cooking lies and brewing chaos.

Why take chances with the law? To these digital desperados: We see you. The long arm of the law may take time, but it doesn’t forget.

No matter how many pseudo names you hide behind, you are just one careless post away from a real, offline problem. Ask around and the jail network has Wi-Fi now, but TikTok access is still pending.

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Back to our dear candidates: Politics should not be a circus, and the voters are not clowns to be entertained with slander, dancing insults or rehearsed outrage.

Show us your plans, not your tempers. Respect each other, respect the law and most importantly, respect the Tanzanian people. We are not interested in rallies that turn into riots, or manifestos delivered with megaphones and machetes.

Civility is not a weakness, it is strength. You can oppose someone’s ideas without turning them into your mortal enemy. Let us keep the political theater civilised and not like a soap opera with unpaid actors.

Also, this is a public memo to stop poking the Police. They are not your campaign opponents. They are there to maintain order, not to entertain your drama or test their tolerance. Don’t test how long they will tolerate provocation, because it may end badly.

Campaign with dignity and they will treat you with the same. Tanzania has come a long way. We have built a democracy that is still young but promising. Let us not torch it for short-term political gain.

At the end of this election, we all go back to the same markets, schools and streets. There is no country for winners to rule if it is in chaos. So, here’s the deal: Campaign responsibly.

Be respectful. Speak truth. Follow the INEC schedule. Ignore this advice… and don’t say we didn’t warn you. Tanzania is not a battlefield. It is a ballot field. Let us treat it that way.