Democratic Discourse? Realising Alternatives in Zimbabwean Political Discourse

Abstract

This article discusses political discourse in Zimbabwe from a perspective of discourse analysis. It examines the two speeches presented (in English) at a seminar on Structural Adjustment and Political Democracy and subsequently published. One speech was given on behalf of a government minister and the other was presented by the Secretary-General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. The speeches in their published form are examined in terms of their attempts to maintain or challenge hegemony in political discourse in Zimbabwe. the Minister's speech is described briefly as an exercise in rearticulating discursive hegemony at a critical point in Government policy formulation. The main focus of this article is an analysis of the lingustics strategies employed by the trade unionist to challange that hegemony, by drawing the audience to consider altenative perceptions. his use of adversaries, negatives and questions is analysed in detail. The article concludes that the trade unionist's discourse strategies are an effective means of introducing a democratic voice into Zimbabwean political discourse and of engaging an audience in 'collaborative denaturalisation' of government discourse