Zimbabwe Leadership Forum Urges Public Sector to Shift from Command Structures

Zimbabwe Leadership Forum chairperson Canaan Dube said public institutions should replace rigid command-and-control systems with structures that include broader consultation. Dube spoke ahead of the 2026 Zimbabwe Leadership Forum gatherings scheduled for Kariba and Singapore.

He stated that many public institutions still operate through outdated top-down structures that weaken trust and limit input from operational levels. "When you come to the public sector, it's the top-down," Dube told journalists in Harare. " Dube said decisive authority remains necessary in crisis situations, but sustainable leadership requires blending executive decisions with input from others.

He described the need to "feed from the brains around you" during strategy development.

Dube also announced a new initiative called Catch Them Young. The program will provide mentorship, leadership training, and exposure to senior executives for young professionals, entrepreneurs, and students. "We cannot continue having conversations about the future without preparing the people who will inherit it," Dube said.

"Leadership succession is not accidental. 4 percent in 2024, supported by finance, trade, and manufacturing sectors.