Strategies of (De)Legitimation of COVID-19 Vaccines in Tanzanian Political Speeches

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked worldwide efforts to combat the health crisis, including vaccine development and distribution. However, varying political responses to vaccination policies complicated public discourse and influenced vaccine acceptance. This research paper employs critical discourse analysis (CDA) to compare (de)legitimation strategies used in Tanzanian political speeches by two presidents: late President Magufuli and current President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The study focuses on their approaches to legitimizing or delegitimizing COVID-19 vaccines in 2021. Two speeches were purposefully selected based on their relevance to vaccination decisions. President Magufuli employed strategies such as discrediting experts, discrediting others, denial, conspiracy theories, and making accusations to delegitimize vaccines. In contrast, President Samia justified vaccine acceptance using strategies such as authorization, moral evaluation, emotional appeals, and rationalization. These differences in approach can be attributed to their respective ideologies. President Magufuli, a populist leader, displayed scepticism towards Western medicine and promoted local solutions, while President Samia presented herself as a pragmatic leader who prioritizes scientific solutions and international cooperation in addressing health crises. The findings shed light on the complexities of public health communication and vaccine acceptance in Tanzania.