Politics in Malawi and Africa at large, like in much of the world, often dances in the grey areas between truth and deception. While citizens hope for transparency and integrity from their leaders, the reality is that politics sometimes thrives on carefully crafted lies. These lies are not always told out of pure malice; often, they are strategic, deliberate acts designed to serve a political or national interest — or to protect the image of those in power.
John J. Mearsheimer, a prominent political scientist, tackled this uncomfortable reality in his thought-provoking book “Why Leaders Lie: The Truth About Lying in International Politics.” He identifies five main types of lies politicians often tell: inter-state lies, fear-mongering, strategic cover-ups, nationalist myths, and liberal lies. While Mearsheimer’s work mostly draws on Western examples, the African political landscape offers a rich and sometimes painful canvas upon which these five types of deception are also painted.
Let’s explore each of these categories with African relevance — to expose, educate, and hopefully, empower.
1. Inter-State Lies: Between Governments, Behind Curtains
Inter-state lies happen when one country lies to another — typically to gain strategic, economic, or diplomatic advantage. While such lies are risky and less frequent, they can be extremely consequential.
African Example: Gaddafi’s Shifting Nuclear Stance.
During the early 2000s, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi claimed he had dismantled his nuclear weapons program to improve Libya’s relationship with Western powers. While it appeared as a gesture of peace, some reports later suggested that Gaddafi’s statements may have overstated the program’s progress or actual existence. The motive? To present Libya as a responsible international actor and remove sanctions. In reality, the declaration may have served more as a diplomatic tool than a full reflection of truth.
These kinds of lies are dangerous. If exposed, they erode trust and can trigger political isolation or even military intervention. In Africa, where regional cooperation is vital for development, inter-state trust is critical. One deceptive move can damage years of diplomatic relations.
2. Fear-Mongering: Creating Enemies to Stay in Power
Fear-mongering is the practice of exaggerating or fabricating threats to manipulate public perception. African leaders have often turned this tactic into a political weapon — especially during elections or national crises.
African Example: “Enemies of the State” in Zimbabwe.
Under former President Robert Mugabe’s regime, opposition parties, especially the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), were often portrayed as agents of the West, bent on destabilizing Zimbabwe. These accusations, coupled with aggressive media campaigns and state-controlled narratives, created a siege mentality. The message to citizens was simple: support the ruling party, or face chaos and colonization.
Fear-mongering in Africa can come in many forms — tribal divisions, ethnic violence warnings, terrorism threats, and foreign interference claims. It helps keep ruling parties in power by presenting them as the only force capable of saving the nation from collapse.
3. Strategic Cover-Ups: Hiding Mistakes, Saving Face
Strategic cover-ups occur when leaders hide scandals, crimes, or failures to avoid political fallout. In many African countries, where accountability systems are weak, such lies are common.
African Example: Nigeria’s #EndSARS Lekki Tollgate Massacre
In 2020, during the nationwide #EndSARS protests against police brutality in Nigeria, the military was accused of opening fire on unarmed protesters at the Lekki Tollgate. Initially, officials denied the event even happened. Later, conflicting statements emerged from the army and government. CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts, and investigations painted a different story from the official narrative.
This attempt to cover up a grave event not only insulted public intelligence but also deepened mistrust in government institutions. Strategic cover-ups like this are a betrayal of public trust and often delay justice.
In Africa, strategic cover-ups frequently revolve around electoral fraud, corruption scandals, mismanagement of public funds, and extrajudicial killings. Unfortunately, such lies can go unchecked for decades.
4. Nationalist Myths: Romanticizing the Past, Manipulating the Present.
Nationalist myths are stories — often only partly true — that glorify a nation’s history or downplay dark chapters to unite people under a common identity. These myths can be harmless in intent, but when they become tools for silencing dissent or rewriting history, they become political lies.
African Example: Post-Independence Hero Worship
Across Africa, many independence leaders are still venerated as near-saints — even when their records were far from perfect. In Tanzania, for example, Julius Nyerere is remembered with great admiration, and rightfully so in many respects. However, his Ujamaa socialist policies, while ideologically noble, resulted in widespread poverty and food shortages. Yet, critiques of his economic policies are often discouraged in public discourse.
Similar myths exist in Malawi about Hastings Kamuzu Banda, in Kenya about Jomo Kenyatta, and in Congo about Patrice Lumumba. These figures are part of national mythologies that gloss over economic failures, authoritarianism, and human rights violations.
Nationalist myths serve to promote unity, but they also allow regimes to deflect responsibility and avoid accountability. They shape the way youth learn history and understand their national identity — for better or worse.
5. Liberal Lies: Moral Justifications for Self-Interest
Liberal lies happen when leaders claim to be acting out of moral duty — for example, promoting democracy or protecting human rights — when they are actually pursuing hidden strategic or economic interests.
African Example: Rwandan Intervention in DR Congo
Rwanda has long defended its military involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by citing national security concerns, especially related to Hutu militias operating near the border. However, critics and international organizations have accused Rwanda of exploiting Congo’s mineral wealth and fueling conflict under the guise of peacekeeping or self-defense.
Similarly, African Union peacekeeping missions are sometimes launched with claims of neutrality and humanitarianism, but beneath the surface lie economic interests, regional power struggles, or pressure from international donors.
These lies are harder to challenge because they wear the mask of virtue. Citizens and critics who question them risk being labeled unpatriotic or morally insensitive.
Why Do Political Lies Flourish in Africa?
While the five categories above are global, certain conditions in Africa make political lying more frequent and less punished:
- Weak institutions: Without independent courts, electoral bodies, and media, lies go unchallenged.
- Low civic education: Many citizens lack access to fact-based education, making it easier to manipulate public opinion.
- Historical trauma: Colonialism, civil wars, and apartheid have left scars that are easily exploited through myths and fear-mongering.
- Lack of consequences: Rarely are political leaders held accountable for their lies, emboldening them to lie again.
How Can African Citizens Protect Themselves?
Understanding the types of lies politicians tell is the first step toward resisting manipulation. Here’s what African citizens can do:
- Question the narrative: Just because a leader says something doesn’t make it true. Ask: Who benefits?
- Seek multiple sources: Don’t rely on state media alone. Use independent news, local blogs, and even regional outlets.
- Push for transparency laws: Support legal reforms that require governments to disclose budgets, defense spending, and foreign deals.
- Educate the youth: Teach critical thinking in schools, so the next generation is harder to deceive.
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CONCLUSION.
Political lies may seem inevitable, but they are not unstoppable. In Africa, where democracy is still evolving in many countries, the price of unchecked deception is high: misrule, corruption, oppression, and underdevelopment.
John Mearsheimer’s framework offers a powerful lens through which Africans can view their politics more critically. Recognizing inter-state lies, fear-mongering, cover-ups, nationalist myths, and liberal lies helps voters become more informed and resilient.
Ultimately, truth in politics isn’t just a virtue for leaders to uphold — it’s a responsibility that citizens must demand. And in Africa, that demand must be louder, braver, and more persistent than ever before.
