Source: 2026 agenda – a fresh start: Nelson Chamisa –Newsday Zimbabwe
Nelson ChamisaFellow citizens,
Our nation faces a pivotal moment and stands at a critical juncture. The promise of independence has not yet translated into rapid accelerated transformation, shared prosperity, dignity, and opportunity for all. Today, Zimbabwe is gripped by disputed national processes, deepening economic hardship, political uncertainty, social collapse and moral decay. Government services and support to citizens is upon partisan considerations.
The unfolding instability has heightened national anxiety and eroded public trust. We have endured decades of crisis, political instability, political intolerance and national decohesion. Hatred has been foisted on the citizens on account of politics. Zimbabwe suffers from a debilitating legitimacy crisis borne out of rigged elections, institutionalized idolatry, sponsored hate, contrived intolerance, endemic corruption, illegal recalls, hijacking of genuine opposition and state capture.
For Zimbabweans in the diaspora, the struggle is real. Many have left the country. The immigration issues affecting Zimbabweans are numerous, the harassment, embarrassment and humiliation they endure is despicable. Some are locked up in unlawful detentions.
Concurrently, the resilience of the citizens of Zimbabwe remains unbroken. From our towns to our villages, the diaspora and here at home, the call is clear: CHANGE must happen. Zimbabwe must reset. This is the moment for A FRESH START, a new beginning anchored in transformation, unity, hope, and purposeful action.
We are all aware that the crisis in Zimbabwe is a crisis of governance. It is a leadership crisis characterized by disputed national processes, discredited elections and a stolen mandate which creates, instability, uncertainty and hardships. It has led to abuse, desperation and division. We have been working tirelessly behind the scenes, to reignite our hope and establish the trust and confidence necessary for our nation.
A false fight breeds a false victory. The entry point to defining the Zimbabwean crises is a governance crises which is in itself a breakdown of a national consensus. A breakdown of a national consensus is characterized by a breakdown of a constitutional order and a breakdown of governmental order. Zimbabwe has been through a vicious cycle of violence, disputes and tensions.
We have a disputed government, disputed elections, disputed mandates and a disputed constitution. The citizens are treated as subjects because they have been stripped of their citizens dignity and sovereignty.
We have engaged our regional body SADC and other stakeholders with the view to end our problems and chart a new course of prosperity. We remain vigorously seized with the mandate you gave us to unite the nation and create opportunities for all. We are acutely aware that if we want to progress and prosper as a nation, we must abandon the politics of the past and embrace a fresh start.
The case for A Fresh Start
Zimbabwe needs a fresh start! What happened before must never be repeated. Zimbabwe needs a NEW WAY. This NEW WAY is born out of long-term reflection on a critical truth: the challenge of our politics is that the alternative has too often been built on a rotten, compromised, exhausted, and sterile past. A past that stifles the organic emergence and growth of an authentic and credible alternative in Zimbabwe.
Instead of progress, the old ways have produced entitlement, fatigue, exhaustion, compromise and corruption. Such foundations cannot sustain a credible alternative.
Agenda 2026 is about a clean break from the mistakes and missteps of the past. It is a commitment to reimagine Zimbabwe and to rebuild our nation on democratic values, constitutionalism, competence, and compassion. A fresh start means rejecting fear, violence, corruption, selfishness, greed and exclusion. Embracing ethical leadership, accountability, and citizens service.
This agenda is not about personalities; it is about citizens. It is not about political parties but all the citizens. It is not about positions; it is about purpose. It is a national renewal agenda – by the citizens and for the nation.
BUILDING A NEW NATIONAL CONSENSUS
A new national consensus by the citizens, with the citizens, and for the citizens. Zimbabwe needs a unity of action, direction and destiny. Unity is not imposed; it is built through communication, connection, conversation, consultation, and consensus. We are reawakening and re-exhorting citizens to define a NEW NATIONAL CONSENSUS anchored in the people – not a small elite of politicians, opportunists, and careerists – clearly answering the central questions: What Zimbabwe do we want, and how do we achieve it? (the process and the destination).
This unity is grounded in oneness. We fall together, and we rise together. We share one nation, one vision, one future, and one success or even one fall. There is no separate destiny for a few and another for the many. Our faith is collective, our struggle is shared, and our victory will be common.
This new unity is built around a shared understanding of what is wrong (the problem), what must be done (the process), and what outcome we seek (the destination) – towards a new and great Zimbabwe for everyone. Oneness is sustained through continuous conversation, because unity is not a moment; it is a managed, nurtured, and lived national commitment.
Communication + Connection + Consultation +Conversation + Consensus = A New National Consensus.
Unity peace and forgiveness, healing of wounds (oneness).
Zimbabwe cannot move forward while divided against itself. Hence, Agenda 2026 places unity at the centre of national reconstruction. Let us choose peace over violence, dialogue over friction, and forgiveness over vengeance. We should acknowledge the losses and wounds of the past (political, social, and economic) and commit to healing and restoration together as a nation.
Let us see each other not as enemies, but as compatriots bound by a shared destiny. There can be no lasting development without reconciliation, and no reconciliation without truth, justice, and empathy. Let us turn away from primitive modes of engagement and embrace a new way.
2) RECLAIMING CITIZEN AGENCY AND LEADERSHIP
True national transformation begins with the citizens themselves. We are cultivating a politically awakened, conscious, and responsible citizenry. People who understand their agency, their role, and their responsibility in shaping Zimbabwe’s destiny. Real change is not delivered to citizens; it is built, defended, and driven by the citizens themselves.
We are building an agency: the practical capacity to act. We are mobilizing, organizing, recruiting, conscientizing, educating, and sustaining information flows, using platforms, forums, and grassroots mechanisms that are citizenocratic, organic, and mass-based.
We aim to build a nation of leaders, not followers, where every citizen actively shapes policies, monitors government, drives development, and defends democratic principles. A key component of this vision is a community-based focus. Citizens are encouraged to contribute to their communities, make a tangible impact, and give back, ensuring that change begins at the grassroots and radiates outward to transform the nation.
Citizen agency and consciousness is about spreading the word (citizen organizing, mobilizing, advocacy. Agenda 2026 is a citizen-driven movement. Every Zimbabwean has a role to play. I call upon citizens to organise peacefully in their communities, workplaces, universities, colleges, churches, unions, professional bodies, and civic spaces. Mobilise, educate, and advocate.
Zimbabwe stands at a crossroads. While our nation boasts vast mineral wealth and the most resilient workforce on the continent, our politics remains trapped in a cycle of “us vs. them.” The current climate – marked by corruption, the complexities of the institutional decay and capture, and the fragmentation of society and capture of the opposition – demands more than just another political party. It demands a Citizens Movement. We are not here to fight for “positions, titles or entitlements”; we are here to fight for a functioning economy and institutional dignity.
Let us spread the message of hope, renewal, and democratic participation. Let us build strong grassroots networks grounded in non-violence, inclusivity, and constitutionalism. Change will not come from silence or apathy. Change will come from organised, informed, and active citizens.
Stewardship of the environment and community action
Our land and our environment is our inheritance and must be our paramount responsibility. The wealth of our nation lies not only in minerals, but in our soils, water, forests, wildlife, and people. Agenda 2026 commits to sustainable development, environmental protection and climate resilience.
Let us promote responsible resource management, community beneficiation, food security, and green economic opportunities. Protecting the environment is not a luxury, it is essential to our survival and prosperity.
3) PREPARING FOR THE NEXT GOVERNMENT
Our Strategic pivot and ultimate endgame is to form the Next Government, a CITIZENS GOVERNMENT supported by all citizens.
Preparing for a new government is about competence, capacity and capability. We are consciously shifting from the oppositional orientation to a propositional posture. This phase is about readiness to govern. From a MOVEMENT TO GOVERNMENT.
This requires deliberate investment in capacity, competence, and character. We must develop policy depth, administrative readiness, ethical leadership, and institutional thinking. Government is no rhetoric; it is responsibility, systems, and execution.
Preparing for the next government means identifying talent, building teams, developing credible policy alternatives, and cultivating leaders who are ready to govern with integrity, skill, and vision from day one.
The destination is clear. Government is no longer a future idea; it is the work of the present. Our destination is not participation in councils, legislatures, or isolated positions. Our destination is the government.
We aim to build and form a government that is God-centered, citizen-centered, and nation-centered. Our mission is clear: to build a nation. We are one people, one nation, and beyond that unity, we are committed to transforming the very culture of our nation – our politics, our governance structures, and our strategies for leadership.
We aim to return government to the citizens, because today, government has been taken away from the people and placed far from their reach. Yet in our vision, the citizens are the government. It is through their empowerment, their voice, and their agency that our nation will truly flourish.
We must not only demand change, we must prepare for it. Agenda 2026 is about readiness; developing policy solutions, nurturing ethical leadership, strengthening institutions, and building the capacity to govern effectively from day one.
This preparation includes assembling competent professionals, engaging the youth and women, learning from global best practices, planning for economic recovery, service delivery, and social protection. We are taking the necessary steps to serve, govern, and deliver results for all Zimbabweans.
4) A NEW MORAL REVOLUTION
Rebuilding Zimbabwe requires more than politics – it demands a radical revival of our national moral fiber. This is a revolution of values, ethics, and behaviors, reshaping how we interact, lead, and govern. It calls for selflessness, forgiveness, integrity, and service, rejecting vengeance, corruption, and selfishness as drivers of our society.
The church, traditional leaders, and civic institutions are central to this transformation, guiding citizens in cultivating character, ethical judgment, and social responsibility. By embedding morality at the heart of governance, politics, and daily life, we create a society where leadership is accountable, justice prevails, and national unity is strengthened.
This revolution is the foundation for a Zimbabwe that is not only politically free but morally and socially whole, ensuring that every citizen participates in a just, ethical, and inclusive national project.
A Youth Focus – Investing in the next generation
Zimbabwe’s future belongs to its young people. This pillar is about investing in the youth, preparing them for nation-building, and equipping them to lead. We will create opportunities that develop skills, leadership capacity, and civic consciousness, ensuring young people are ready to take responsibility for the country’s political, economic, and social transformation.
Our commitment is to set up young Zimbabweans for success and prosperity, empowering them to innovate, create, and contribute meaningfully to national development. By nurturing the next generation, we ensure a pipeline of capable, principled, and visionary leaders, securing a Zimbabwe that is progressive, inclusive, and resilient.
5) THE INTERNATIONAL AGENDA
The world is in crisis. Coups, rigged elections, illegitimate regimes, and the collapse of global governance have left societies, especially in Africa, vulnerable to exploitation, inequality, and systemic injustice. Contemporary international politics prioritizes power, profit, and strategic alignment over human rights, justice, and citizen welfare, while weak national and regional institutions, including SADC and other bodies, fail to protect citizens, allowing corruption, elite capture, and marginalization to persist.
As a values-centered and principled alternative, as Zimbabwe, we will be a leader, not a passive observer. Our philosophy is clear: we stand for a Nation-centered, Citizen-centered and God-centered governance.
We aim to embark on a robust global advocacy campaign. We will engage, disrupt, and hold accountable global and regional institutions, forging alliances with progressive forces across Africa and the world to advocate for transformation, uphold legitimacy, and defend citizens rights.
Our global advocacy ensures that Zimbabwe is principled, proactive, and respected, advancing a people-centered vision of governance, justice, and sustainable development both at home and internationally.
CALL TO ACTION
Fellow Citizens, the time to reset is now. Agenda 2026 is a rallying call to courage, unity, and action. Go and mobilise. Go and organise. Prepare for a New National Consensus and a New Citizens Government founded on transformation, accountability, integrity, justice, and service. Let us open ourselves to constructive conversations and discussions about bringing the citizens together and building one nation. We Are One People!
We call on all citizens to mobilize, organize, and join the NEW WAY for a New Great Zimbabwe for everyone and forever, a Zimbabwe that transcends tribe, color, race, and party affiliation. This is a movement of the people, by the people, and for the people, where every Zimbabwean has a role to play in shaping the country’s future.
To Zimbabweans abroad, Our Diaspora front, we recognize you, the millions of Zimbabweans who continue to be the backbone and lifeblood of our economy. You will no longer be “observers”; you will be active participants in this citizens movement’s governance and support system.
Key Actions:
Mobilize: Raise awareness and inspire citizens to take part in the NEW WAY.
Organize: Build local and national structures to coordinate collective action.
Recruit: Encourage every Zimbabwean to become an active participant and recruiter in the creation of the New National Consensus.
The Immediate Agenda (The Next 180 Days)
Our priority is not showmanship; it is the Legal and Institutional Fortification and Building the Grassroots Resilience and Consciousness. We will be establishing a presence in everywhere, securing our legal standing, and building a digital platform that allows for transparent subscription and donor tracking.
47.We are entering a season of foundational groundwork. This is the period of “grassroots strength”- hoche koche, dande mutande, zeve zeve-building the structures that will withstand the storms of a tyranny and despotic torrential winds.
Let us rise together; peacefully, purposefully, and patriotically, to reclaim our future. Zimbabwe can and will work again. The new dawn begins with us. In due course, we will be executing a program of action to fulfil this Agenda.
I am calling on the professionals, the farmers, the street vendors, and the students. If you believe that Zimbabwe’s best days are not behind us, but ahead of us, join us. We need your expertise in policy, your local influence, and your financial support to build a solid momentum that ensures our message reaches the furthest and remotest parts of our beautiful country.
The journey to a New Great Zimbabwe does not start when we become a government; it starts with the foundation we lay today.
Fambai neshoko. Hamba lomlayezo. In Solidarity,
God bless you.
God bless Zimbabwe.
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