Divisive Discourse on the 2019–2020 Climate Change Effects among Tanzanian Stakeholders

Abstract

Promoting climate change discourses may potentially create a useful spacefor addressing the effects of climate change in Tanzania. During disasterssuch as floods, everyone obfuscates their agency and blames the other forcausing climate change effects. This paper examines the discourse of climatechange among scientists, government officials, and the non-scientificTanzanian stakeholders on climate change and adaptation strategies afterthe 2019-2020 effects. These actors obfuscate responsibilities and attributeblame on the other for accelerating climate change effects. This paperexamines how these attributions contribute to enhancing resilience andadaptation strategies. The paper was theoretically guided by the dividedsubject and positioning theories. Data for this paper were gathered fromYouTube covering the subject. The results suggest that while none of theactors accepts responsibility for accelerating climate change; “what ishappening and what should be done” gradually turn into “who is responsiblefor the mess”. Divisive discourse like this is likely to keep Tanzania wobblingto create a resilient society to confront the challenges of climate change. Thepaper raises the need for the facilitation of a better communication betweenclimate change science and the non-scientific audience.