Today I am honoured to share an important milestone in a journey that has been quietly unfolding over the past several months.

On 5 March 2026, at a small private gathering held at the Lodge at Ancient City, near the historic ruins of Great Zimbabwe in Masvingo, we officially launched the Civic Leadership Institute (CLI).

The moment was intentionally modest, but deeply symbolic. It was also made possible by many companions who worked quietly, faithfully, and generously in the background to bring this vision to life.

In the presence of a small circle of civic leaders, we convened the inaugural General Assembly of the Civic Leadership Institute, adopted the CLI Constitution and governance architecture, elected the Board of Directors, adopted the CLI Inaugural Strategy (2026–2030), and concluded the inaugural retreat of the Civic Leadership Academy (CLA).

The Civic Leadership Institute was born out of a simple conviction: that civic leaders who serve our communities deserve spaces of accompaniment, reflection, and solidarity as they navigate the complex realities of leadership.

Across Africa, civic leaders carry enormous responsibility. They defend communities, sustain democratic life, and respond to urgent social challenges. Yet many do so under conditions of shrinking civic space, institutional fragility, growing financial uncertainty, deep isolation, and extreme exhaustion.

The Civic Leadership Institute exists to walk with these leaders, strengthening the institution of civic leadership, building resilient organisations, and nurturing a community of practice grounded in African lived experience.

In the coming days, we will begin sharing more about the work of the institute and the ideas that shape it.

Today, we are opening our social media platforms and inviting you to follow the journey:

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/civicleadershipinstitute/

BlueSky
https://bsky.app/profile/cliafrica.bsky.social

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/cli.africa

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@CivicLeadershipInstitute

Over the next two weeks, we will be sharing insights from the Civic Leadership Academy, the Strategy Accompaniment Team (SAT), reflections on the Seven Shifts of Civic Leadership Reimagine, and introducing the institutional architecture of CLI.

The official website of the Civic Leadership Institute will go live on 26 March 2026:
www.civicleadershipinstitute.com

This is only the beginning.

The work ahead is to accompany civic leaders across Africa as they continue the vital task of serving their communities.

We have a simple but crucial mandate before us: serving those who serve our communities.

Dzikamai Bere
Founder & CEO
Civic Leadership Institute

Media Inquiries
media@civicleadershipinstitute.com