There is a dangerous pattern taking root across East Africa: when confronted with uncomfortable truths, governments are increasingly choosing propaganda, denial, and digital repression over accountability and dialogue. It is the oldest authoritarian reflex: bury your head in the sand, deny citizens’ lived experiences, and drown out dissent with noise. Yet history shows that this strategy never works in the long run, and often makes the eventual fallout far more explosive. Tanzania’s recent response to the shocking CNN investigation showing police fatally shooting protesters and signs of mass graves is a clear example. Rather than engage with the evidence, the Government Spokesperson swiftly dismissed the investigation as “unprofessional and unacceptable,” accusing neighbouring countries of pushing “propaganda” to tarnish Tanzania’s image. This defensiveness is complemented by the suppression of protest footage through a near-total internet blackout and threats to jail anyone sharing post-election violence videos. It was a calculated attempt to control perception rather than address the disturbing reality on the ground. But governments must learn a simple lesson: you can blackout the internet, but you cannot blackout reality.
