Political intolerance: A threat to democracy :: Mmegi Online

Africa is a continent where contestation for power has continued to dominate the political landscape for many years. It is within the realm of contestation for power between political actors where we have witnessed confrontations of all kinds, which in many cases has spiralled to violent conflict.

Many African states and politicians continue to make news headlines not because of their robust intellectual engagements on how to advance the socio-economic livelihoods of fellow citizens but on toxic confrontations, which borders on sheer political intolerance.

If one analyses African politics very closely, you will no doubt realise that political power in many cases is not won and lost in the battlefield of ideas through the strength of persuasion but won on the back of gross political intolerance, which causes retardation of ideas, innovation, creativity and growth of political consciousness amongst the people due to fear of misconception of such ideas by their political opponents or fellow comrades.

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