Chamisa begging for dialogue

Opposition politician Nelson Chamisa has renewed calls for national dialogue, urging Zimbabweans to "find each other and walk in unity" amid warnings that deepening political and social divisions are undermining the country's social and economic development.

In a Unity Day statement released on Monday, Chamisa said hatred, intolerance and disunity had become pervasive across politics, institutions, churches and households, leaving Zimbabwe "deeply fractured politically, socially and economically".

His remarks come against the backdrop of an intensely polarised political environment characterised by rivalry between the ruling Zanu-PF and a fragmented opposition.

The opposition landscape has splintered into multiple formations, weakened by internal power struggles, recalls of legislators, court battles and competing claims to legitimacy. Once a vibrant political force, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), which Chamisa previously led, has been severely affected by divisions, parallel structures and rival leadership claims. Critics say the infighting has reduced the party to an almost hollow presence in Parliament.

Political discourse, particularly on social media, has also become increasingly hostile, marked by personal attacks, misinformation and what observers describe as a politics of hatred, further widening existing divisions.

Chamisa said unity should not be reduced to a ceremonial slogan but must serve as the foundation for national recovery through genuine and inclusive dialogue.

"Zimbabweans must find each other and walk in unity, celebrating their unity in diversity," he said. "We must build a shared vision that unites all Zimbabweans under a common trajectory — the Zimbabwe we desire, the Zimbabwe we want and the Zimbabwe we demand."

"For too long, we have allowed hatred, intolerance and division to define us," he added.

He argued that annual Unity Day commemorations ring hollow while unresolved historical and political grievances persist, including the legacy of Gukurahundi, disputed elections and political parties marred by intolerance, violence and internal conflict.

Chamisa also pointed to widening socio-economic inequalities, rising unemployment and poverty, as well as continued migration and brain drain, as factors that have deepened national fractures.

"The negative energy we waste fighting one another, pulling each other down and plotting against each other could instead be redirected toward productive solutions and meaningful collaboration," he said. "Too often, we are quick to blame others, yet we fail to recognise that, in many ways, we have become our own greatest enemy."

He accused government leaders of abdicating their responsibilities by prioritising personal enrichment, political survival and partisan point-scoring over national healing and cohesion.

Political analysts have similarly linked the continued arrest and detention of opposition politicians, activists and government critics to growing intolerance within the political system. They argue that the use of law enforcement and the criminal justice system to suppress dissent has narrowed democratic space, entrenched mistrust and fostered a climate of fear that undermines prospects for dialogue.

"Institutions meant to uphold justice, fairness and accountability have been weakened or co-opted," Chamisa said. "Promises of reconciliation, equitable development and social cohesion have largely gone unfulfilled, leaving citizens disillusioned and the nation fragmented. True unity requires not only understanding but concrete mechanisms to resolve disputes and foster national cohesion."

Chamisa also called for a sustainable, long-term solution to Zimbabwe's recurring electoral disputes, which he described as a foundational challenge.

"Zimbabwe must honour and respect the voice of its citizens, doing away with contested and discredited national processes and outcomes," he said. "Resolving this foundational issue is critical to addressing the nation's deeper challenges."