Zimbabwe
Since 2018, IFIT has accompanied an interdisciplinary group of 16 Zimbabwean thought leaders committed to advancing dialogue and the conditions for inclusive democracy and the rule of law in the country. Due to its multifaceted composition and inclusive methodology, the group constitutes a unique national space for brainstorming and generating creative, realistic and homegrown ideas for overcoming the challenges afflicting Zimbabwe’s society, politics and economy.
The group’s main strategic focus is developing and promoting more realistic conditions and options for national and political dialogue, whilst considering other solutions that could overcome the longstanding polarisation and other deep-rooted crises that have hampered the realisation of reconciliation and constitutionalism in Zimbabwe.
Recent Commentary
OP-ED
When communities speak, does the nation listen? (November 2025)This article examines the gap between Zimbabwe’s long-standing calls for national dialogue and the vibrant, often overlooked dialogue traditions thriving within local communities. Drawing on findings from the study Promoting Bottom-Up Dialogue, it highlights how community-led discussions are quietly shaping responses to pressing issues from environmental harm to service delivery. Through cases like the Mazayi River cyanide spill and the Bryden Country School campaign, the piece illustrates how organised, persistent citizen action can elevate local concerns to the national agenda.