It is very dangerous that the Government is living in denial over the existence of the opposition Patriotic Front (PF).
It is even more serious that the Judiciary has been made to labour under the fiction and illusion created at the Registrar of Societies office where egregious abuses of authority have occurred.
The result is that there are now three factions of the PF, purely as a result of the manipulation. The reality is that government has worked hard in trying to weaken the opposition, particularly the Patriotic Front (PF), which has been a victim of state-sponsored machinations to kill and completely obliterate it.
It is undeniable that the events and illegalities at the Registrar of Societies have all pointed to the fact that the UPND government has been determined to exterminate the PF.
It all started with the Miles Sampa saga, who with the full support of the State, held what he termed as a retreat, which he converted into the PF extra-ordinary elective convention from which he installed himself as president of the PF.
Since, then, the PF has suffered brutal assaults from within itself, but supported by the government, with the State facilitating the illegal change of office bearers of a political party they want out of political space.
The Judiciary has, regrettably been complicit to the destruction of the PF, as it has refused to hear or adjudicate on all the cases involving the PF and has conveniently shelved all the cases, never to be heard.
This is very dangerous because it flies right in the face reality on the ground.
It, in fact threatens the peace and stability of the country because such anarchic actions often foment anger among members of the opposition and citizens at large.
Throughout history, governments that have fallen into the illusion that opposition does not exist or is irrelevant have inevitably encountered dire consequences.
Whether through deliberate manipulation of public perception, censorship, or self-deception, such governments often lose touch with reality, leading to policy failures, social unrest, and, in extreme cases, the collapse of the State.
The belief that opposition does not exist is not just a failure of governance but a dangerous form of authoritarian hubris that erodes democratic principles, fosters corruption, and undermines the legitimacy of political institutions.
One of the most immediate dangers of a government believing in a manipulated illusion of unanimous support is the creation of an echo chamber.
When dissenting voices are suppressed or ignored, leaders operate within an environment where only favorable opinions are amplified. This leads to poor decision-making, as policies are implemented without critical evaluation or the consideration of alternative viewpoints. Governments that fall into this trap often enact policies that do not reflect the will of the people or address real issues, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
For example, authoritarian regimes that dismiss opposition as nonexistent or insignificant frequently enact economically or socially damaging policies that ultimately alienate their populations and incite unrest.
Additionally, when a government refuses to acknowledge opposition, it may resort to repressive measures to maintain its illusion of absolute control.
This often manifests in censorship, media manipulation, and political persecution.
By silencing dissenting voices, such governments may temporarily sustain their narrative, but in doing so, they create a volatile environment ripe for sudden upheaval.
History has shown that when suppressed opposition reaches a tipping point, revolutions and mass protests erupt, as seen in the Arab Spring uprisings and the fall of the Soviet Union.
The illusion of invulnerability only lasts until reality forces a reckoning.
