Inclusive Dialogues 

As a policy think tank, Zimbabwe Institute, (ZI), facilitates Inclusive Dialogues between Zimbabwe’s political parties with representation in Parliament, under the Zimbabwe Political Parties Dialogue platform, (ZPPD), aimed at achieving consensus on issues of national interest. The ZPPD can be traced back to the Global Political Agreement, (GPA) which led to the setting up of a Government of National Unity, (GNU) in Zimbabwe and in which ZI played a critical role of monitoring the implementation of the GPA across Zimbabwe’s three political parties. It is thus a non-partisan interparty dialogue platform which convenes meetings for Secretary Generals of political parties with representation in Parliament. The SG’s meetings play a central role in facilitating the hosting of dialogues across political parties on areas of concern such as electoral reform as well as implementing activities and conversations on women and youth inclusion as well as supporting youth Parliamentary Caucus engagements.

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ELECTORAL REFORMS

Conversations on electoral reform date back to 2019, when political parties developed a matrix on critical areas that need addressing for the progressive development of Zimbabwe in strengthening the credibility of elections as well as enhancing democracy. Post the 2023 elections, political parties held several conversations focusing on two critical areas namely amending the Electoral Act and establishing a process of political party registration. At a meeting held in Bulawayo in September 2024, political parties collaborated and came up with a Draft Electoral Reform Bill which proposes the inclusion of women and young women to political party leadership positions through the nomination process and a Draft Political Parties Registration, Regulation and Funding Bill which seeks to make the inclusion of women in political party structures mandatory.

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WOMEN POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

ZI advocates for inclusive politics and development aimed at increasing the number of women in politics, leadership and decision making. This work covers capacity building at of women politicians across party at various levels including regional peer exchange learning programmes and extends to include providing support through collaborative work with the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus, (ZWPC), to achieve gender equality. One of the outcomes of the women political participation inclusive dialogues held in May 2024 in Bulawayo, was drafting of a resolution by women demanding that Secretary Generals, who were in attendance, champion the cause of women inclusion in political party structures. This demand was cascaded to the different political parties and resulted in the adoption of resolutions committing to enhance the inclusion of women to positions of authority and to strive to achieve the 50/50 gender equality policy.

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YOUTH POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

Within this scope, ZI supports capacity building initiatives on youth political participation providing mentorship support to assist young people in politics to deliver on their promise whilst strengthening them their resolve to work together across party lines. ZI also provides regional peer learning exchange opportunities to young politicians in countries like Kenya with well-established and institutionalised youth parliamentary caucuses and youth councils that collaborate on youth interests and enhance effective and meaningful youth participation in politics.