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.
