In the heart of Zimbabwe, where cultural diversity meets historical complexity and contextual difficulties, a quiet transformation is unfolding. It is not one marked by political rhetoric or mass social movements, but by the sound of the voices of community members, leaders, and stakeholders engaged in dialogue.
These discussions, centred on real issues confronting real communities on a daily basis, offer a powerful avenue to address Zimbabwe’s challenges. Issue-based dialogues are fast becoming a vital tool for fostering national unity and charting a path towards restoration of the social contract and development.
A recently published report titled Promoting Bottom-Up Dialogue: A Study on Community-Level Dialogue Experiences in Zimbabwe delves deeply into the dynamics of issue based dialogue at the community level in Zimbabwe. Dialogue itself is inherently rooted in Zimbabwe’s traditional culture, as encapsulated by the Shona or Ndebele term “Dare,” or “iDale“, meaning a place for discussion or a tribunal for ideas. These terms reflect a commonly practiced but little-acknowledged culture of dialogue among Zimbabweans. The report highlights the vibrant and robust culture of local dialogues and identifies successful, positive strategies for non-partisan community level dialogue by analysing 13 case studies of community dialogue from their inception to their final outcomes and long term impact.
The Power of Dialogue in Building Communities
The report defines dialogue as more than just a conversation; but describes it as a structured process that brings together community members to identify challenges, share perspectives, and collaboratively develop solutions. When rooted in mutual respect and understanding, dialogue fosters unity, empowers communities, and contributes to nation building. In Zimbabwe, where historical, political, and socio-economic tensions often divide communities, dialogue offers a way to bridge divides, find common ground and unite persons in spite of their diversity.
One particular Chiredzi community’s longstanding fight against early child marriage between 2017 and 2022 is extensively described in the report. Despite constitutional prohibitions, child marriage remains alarmingly prevalent, driven by socio-economic pressures, unconstitutional religious norms, and entrenched cultural practices. This is a particularly sensitive topic in many communities, where families often choose to mind their own business rather than intervene. However, through the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), a series of sustained conversations from 2017 gradually shifted the community’s thoughts about child marriage. ZPP was established in 2000 by a coalition of non-governmental and church organizations and has been a steadfast advocate for human rights and peace in Zimbabwe.
Through dialogues facilitated by the ZPP, the Chiredzi community committed to a zero-tolerance stance against child marriage. Village heads played a pivotal role, leveraging their influence to advocate for girls’ rights and progressively engage reluctant families. Community champions, trained and supported by ZPP, ensured the dialogues’ impact extended beyond meetings. The community members themselves facilitated the rescue of several young girls from child marriages and established an environment of accountability. These sustained conversations demonstrated how sensitive issues of concern can be addressed effectively when communities are empowered to speak openly with one another in a safe space. The successful outcome was due the community’s shared understanding of the harm of such practices, and their willingness to collectively work towards sustainable change.
Issue-Based Dialogue – The Need for an Inclusive Approach
One of the key findings of the report is that dialogue must be inclusive and achieve the aim of bringing together a diverse range of groups of people in communities. It is important to ensure that marginalized voices are not only heard but are also actively amplified. Genuine inclusion goes beyond tokenistic representation – it seeks to create a safe space where every perspective is heard and valued. Solutions that emerge from such inclusive discussions are more likely to resonate broadly, addressing the needs and concerns of different segments of society and building bridges across the that what usually divide people.
While issue-based dialogue inherently focuses on challenges that directly affect communities, it often falls short of directly engaging all relevant community voices. Too frequently, conversations exclude those most impacted by the issues at hand—women, youth or other marginalized groups. This omission weakens the dialogue, limiting its effectiveness and undermining its potential to generate impactful and sustainable solutions.
Tsholotsho is a region that has endured persistent water shortages for years. The Girls Table, a women-led organization, launched discussions in 2023 in the heart of Tsholotsho to tackle the pressing issue of water scarcity. Recognizing that such meetings typically exclude young women, The Girls Table decided to adopt a different approach and put the spotlight on the women’s perspective during the conversations. These dialogues highlighted the crisis’s disproportionate burden on young women and girls, who are often tasked with the physically demanding and time-intensive responsibility of fetching water. Traditionally excluded from decision-making on water management, these young women found a platform through The Girls Table, which connected them with relevant stakeholders who implement solutions. By placing women at the centre of the conversation, the initiative not only shed light on their struggles but also fostered inclusive, community-driven approaches to finding practical solutions.
The impact of these dialogues is evident in eighteen-year-old Sikhonzeni Ndlovu, who transitioned from being a participant to an advocate and community champion. Inspired by the discussions, she launched a podcast that amplifies the voices of young women and highlights the broad challenges that they face. Some of the issues that emerged from these conversations included concerns around perennial borehole contamination and the reality of the gruelling effort that can be associated with harvesting water in dry areas. Some women described pumping water for up to 30 minutes just to obtain a few buckets. Through her advocacy efforts, Sikhonzeni not only brought attention to these matters but also empowered others to join the conversation, making effective use of digital platforms to bridge the communication gaps.
Inclusive Issue-Based Dialogue: The Foundation for a Cohesive Society
Zimbabwe stands at a pivotal moment, with an untapped potential to harness the robust, vibrant culture of dialogue in its communities. Issue-based dialogue offers a way forward, enabling communities, and the country at large to address challenges whilst contributing to a broader narrative of peace and development. By concentrating on tangible issues such as education, healthcare, service delivery or economic opportunities, dialogue participants can rally around shared aspirations thereby fostering a sense of unity and purpose.
The outcomes demonstrate that national unity is not achieved by avoiding differences but by addressing them through a framework of respect, trust, and shared goals. In a nation as diverse as Zimbabwe, this approach can serve as the foundation for building a cohesive society that is fit for all.