Cartoons for political communication: An analysis of Zimdaily cartoons on Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)

Cartoons have long served as tools for political communication, offering a way to critique, comment on and shape public discourse on social and economic issues. This study is a qualitative exploration of the political messages communicated through cartoons in Zimdaily. Guided by the multimodal discourse analysis theory, the study examines the messages about the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency conveyed in Zimdaily cartoons. Data for the study were collected through textual analysis of nine cartoons published from April to September 2024. Findings indicate that the ZiG currency is consistently depicted negatively, symbolising economic instability and the government’s failure to revive the economy. Cartoons are used to criticise the government’s handling of the economy and to highlight that the ZiG currency was introduced in an unfavourable environment. The cartoons suggest that ZiG and the bond currency that preceded it are the same. Cartoons refute the government’s claims that ZiG is backed by gold. They also make a mockery of ZiG as a currency that is forced on people by the police. The study concludes that Zimdaily cartoons critique the ruling government’s economic policies through satirical depictions of the ZiG currency in a subtle yet impactful way.