Self-inflicted tragedies: an assessment of the impact of language use by the political parties in postindependence Zimbabwe

Abstract

This research is an examination of the effects of language use by political parties in post-independence Zimbabwe. It proceeds from the realization that the language used in slogans, songs, speeches and on banners by the political parties has contributed to the political crisis obtaining in the country as it basically constitutes hate speech which helps to fuel hostility among the people belonging to rival political parties The political parties being analyzed are the Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front) [ZANU (PF)] and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) which have dominated the political scene in the period under discussion and to a lesser extend Mavambo-Kusile-Dawn (MKD). Some of the negative results emanating from language use by the two political parties include lack of tolerance between the political parties which leads to violence and loss of life, fanning ethnic divisions and racial disharmony, entrenching dictatorship within the structures of the political parties and distortion of the history of the country. The paper argues that change in language use will go a long way in resolving the political crisis obtaining in the country as language has influence in the manner people behave and relate to each other. It comes to this conclusion after noting that language that is supposed to be a bridge that helps people to communicate and build relations, has in actual fact become a stumbling block to harmonious social, economic and political relations.