and experts. They are ordinarily convened to negotiate major political reforms or peace in complex and fragmented conflict environments.5 These dialogues usually happen in contexts where there is high socio-economic and political conflict beyond the containment of traditional security institutions such as the police and military institutions. In practice, national dialogue processes may last for long periods depending on the complexity of issues being addressed and the attitudes of actors involved. National dialogues are highly contextual and their objectives are customised to the conflict affected country or society. South Sudan as a conflict society, for example, has its 10-points national dialogue objectives namely; (1) ending all forms of violence, (2) redefining and re-establishing stronger national unity, (3) strengthening social contract between the citizens and their state, (4) addressing issues on diversity, (5) agreeing on a mechanism for allocating and sharing resources, (6) settling historical disputes and sources of conflict among communities, (7) setting a stage for an integrated and inclusive national development strategy and economic recovery, (8) agreeing on steps and guarantees to ensure safe, free, fair and peaceful elections and post-transition in 2019 (9) agreeing on a modality for a speedier and safe return of our internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes and (10) furthering national healing, peace, and reconciliation. This means national dialoguing is primarily an instrument for sustainable political transition and peacebuilding, beyond the maintenance of law and order by state security institutions. It is a national healing and reconciliation procedure. National dialogue objectives are also dependent on whether the dialogue is formal or informal. Informal national dialogues are non-commissioned processes usually commenced by non-state actors such as churches and the civil society while formal dialogues are sanctioned by government mandates and could produce binding resolutions to participating actors. Informal national dialogues, however, usually result in formal processes that could affect political and constitutional reforms. In the current Zimbabwean context, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches has commenced informal national dialogues whereas the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) has commenced formal national dialogue processes. National Dialogue Puzzle National dialogues ideally should involve both local and national stakeholders in order to gain legitimacy and to truly reflect a national character. The process must be inclusive throughout its entire life and participation should involve wider constituencies. Below is an archetypal national Paffenholz, T. and Ross, N., 2016. Inclusive Political Settlements: New Insights from Yemen's National Dialogue. The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Geneva Switzerland. 5 3