Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2024)

Ad Hominem Arguments in Zimbabwean Political Discourse:  An Analysis of Political Argumentation

https://doi.org/10.56279/c4xxrt16
Jack Mutsvairo 
Department of African languages  Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Dr. Mawande
Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Corresponding Author(s) : Jack Mutsvairo 

jackmutsvairo@gmail.com 

Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), Vol. 13 No. 2 (2024)

Abstract

The article investigates the motivation behind the prevalent use of the subtypes of 
ad hominem (personal attacks) arguments in Zimbabwe political discourse in the 
build-up to the 2023 harmonised council, parliamentary and presidential elections. 
This qualitative case study research looks at the use of ad hominem arguments by 
Zimbabwean politicians. Using analytical tools and concepts from informal logic 
and pragma-dialectical argumentation theories, this article focuses on identifying, 
analysing, and evaluating ad hominem arguments used in Zimbabwean political 
discourse, particularly in parliamentary debates and broadcast interviews. Data 
were purposively sampled and gathered from Hansard records, and a television 
interview transcript. It emerged that ad hominem arguments are used by 
interlocutors to attack others or to defend themselves when attempting to resolve 
differences of opinion. We conclude that Zimbabwean politicians use ad hominem 
arguments fallaciously at times, and rhetorically at other times. 


Keywords

fallacy, ad hominem argument, argumentation, political discourse, pragma-dialectical theory,  strategic manoeuvring 
Ad Hominem Arguments in Zimbabwean Political Discourse:  An Analysis of Political Argumentation. (2024). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 13(2). https://doi.org/10.56279/c4xxrt16
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Author Biography

Dr. Mawande, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

  Department of African languages  Stellenbosch University, South Africa  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Cite

Ad Hominem Arguments in Zimbabwean Political Discourse:  An Analysis of Political Argumentation. (2024). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 13(2). https://doi.org/10.56279/c4xxrt16
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