We obviously did not always agree but by engaging in a genuine dialogue and applying the principle of consensus we found that there were issues we could agree on. These issues of agreement provided a starting point, which enabled a diverse range of opinions and interests to find ways to co-operate and work together in addressing the challenges we face as a nation. In May 2017 we collectively adopted the Draft NSST Plan at a conference in Harare.15 The Draft Plan endorsed the core Guiding Principles of ZPSP and adopted a Strategic Framework establishing a National Steering Committee, which would take decisions by consensus, to oversee implementation of the plan on the basis of “a strategy of consultation and constructive engagement with the Parliament of Zimbabwe, the Government and state agencies”. The Operational Framework of the Draft Plan contained formal commitments to dialogue, mainstreaming of gender and human security frameworks and a knowledge-based approach. Thematic Priorities identified by the Draft Plan included research, documentation and information, capacity-building in academic institutions, state agencies and civil society, consultation and collaboration between and within non-state actors, communities and the state and the promotion of genuine national dialogue. Each of the seven sectoral working groups (detailed above) then provided specific Action Plans based on Sectoral Priorities identified and agreed by their constituencies. Finally the Draft Plan contained proposals on nine (9) National Priorities for security sector transformation in Zimbabwe as follows: Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law; Adherence to Normative Frameworks; Peace-building; Respect for Human Rights; Building a culture of political tolerance; Engaging citizen participation; Corruption; Election safety and security; Assessing and preparing for future threats to safety and security. The peace-building component incorporated reconciliation and national healing and specific attention to Dealing with the Past. The NSST Plan contains a menu of actions on which it was believed that state and non-state actors could begin to co-operate. It therefore excluded some of the toughest issues. Could the implementation of the NSST Plan create platforms for further dialogue and build sufficient confidence and capacity to enable the difficult and contested issues to be addressed in the future? We could only hope so. Conclusion The NSST Plan and the work of ZPSP which underpinned that process was predicated on a strategy of incremental engagement between state and non-state actors based on the consensus principle. It aimed to build an evidence and 15 Working Draft of the “Conceptual Framework for a National Security Sector Transformation (NSST) Plan for Zimbabwe”, 24 May 2017. 20