07/01/2026
WHEN TONSE BECAME A MARKET OF VOICES
In the land of Kalunga, animals once agreed that the forest was tired of being managed by one voice alone. They gathered under a fig tree and formed an alliance called TONSE, meaning everyone counts.
The forest listened.
But unity, like fire, must be controlled or it burns the house.
At the center of Tonse sat five animals.
The Lion represented those who believed leadership was inherited by loudness and history. He spoke of sacrifice, bravery, and past battles. Yet he never showed a map, only his mane. When asked for direction, he said, “Follow me,” but never said where.
The Hyena stood for those who joined only after sensing weakness elsewhere. He laughed during serious moments, shifted loyalty by the week, and cared more about positions than purpose. His favorite words were “consultation” and “inclusivity,” but his eyes searched for advantage.
The Monkey symbolized politicians who treated leadership like a stage. He loved cameras, applause, and clever lines. Plans bored him. Hard work exhausted him. If an idea did not trend by sunset, he abandoned it by morning.
The Parrot spoke for those who repeated slogans without understanding them. Today he echoed the Lion. Tomorrow he copied the Monkey. He shouted unity while spreading confusion. When questioned, he said, “That is what was said,” even when it was wrong.
Finally, there was the Tortoise, representing institutions and elders who understood systems, discipline, and long work. He spoke rarely. When he did, he asked for structures, rules, and timelines. Each time, he was told, “Not now. We must first agree politically.”
That was Tonse’s sickness.
They mistook agreement for progress.
Meetings were held weekly. Press statements were issued often. Committees were formed to manage disagreements created by other committees. Every failure was explained as “ongoing dialogue.”
Nothing changed in the forest.
Markets remained empty.
Young animals lost patience.
Farmers stopped listening to speeches and started listening to survival.
When cracks became visible, Tonse blamed enemies outside the fig tree. They blamed sabotage, misinformation, and jealousy. Never once did they blame the absence of direction.
One season, the Drum that was meant to guide Tonse fell silent.
No one had destroyed it.
It simply stopped being used.
Each animal had been beating it differently. No rhythm survived. The Drum became decoration, rolled out only during announcements.
The Tortoise finally spoke again.
“You are not failing because you disagree,” he said. “You are failing because no one here accepts discipline. Leadership without structure is noise. Unity without ex*****on is performance.”
The Lion growled.
The Monkey laughed.
The Hyena smirked.
The Parrot repeated none of it accurately.
And so Tonse remained standing, but unmoving.
The elders say this is how alliances die in daylight. Not by betrayal, but by confusion. Not by enemies, but by refusal to decide.
They end the tale with a warning.
An alliance that cannot produce action will eventually produce excuses.
An alliance that fears hierarchy will never build systems.
And an alliance that calls confusion democracy will watch progress walk past it quietly.
That is how the forest learned that shouting together does not mean moving forward.
And that history does not forgive groups that waste time while people wait.
___________
Zambian Angle
