“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood…”
– Theodore Roosevelt, Citizenship in a Republic (23 April 1910)

Brave Conversations

On 29 December 2025, I officially and physically vacated the Office of the National Director at
ZimRights, Zimbabwe’s largest and first post-independence indigenous grassroots movement. I was handing over the keys to an amazing young leader, Gillian Chinzete, the first woman to occupy that seat in the 34-year history of the movement.

A few days later, I posted my signing-off message on my social media platforms. Among the many kind responses, Ms. Getrude Chimange wrote: “The work continues because the foundation is solid.”

Getrude’s message stopped me in my tracks and triggered a reflection I feel compelled to share. We need to have an honest conversation about the “grace to step down”. When the time is ripe—but the economy does not care—leaving a secure role requires a different kind of discipline. It fights against every instinct to “hold on until kingdom come”.

I cannot compress these thoughts into one post, so I am starting a reflection series based on my experiences and the lessons I learnt from other companions in the arena. In this first installment, I focus on the question: Who is in the arena with you?

My Story: A Rude Welcome to the Arena

Nothing happens in a vacuum; you can never understand my decisions without the background story.

On 6 January 2020, I was clearing my office at the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum. As I exited the building, accompanied by Dr. Musa Kika, who was taking over my role as Programmes Manager, I remember saying to him: “The day you come in, is the day you plan your exit”. We laughed about it then, but I would return to that conversation many times over the years.

The following day, I reported for duty at ZimRights House for my first meeting with the Management Committee. I was excited and confident that this was a natural career progression. I thought I was going to live happily ever after.

Then we sat down in the boardroom to look at the finances. The Finance Manager revealed, without blinking, that my salary for that month was going to be USD 275.00.

It became clear to me that I was in the wrong place. I informed the Management Committee I was no longer available, carried my backpack out of the boardroom, and went home to talk to my wife about the future. 

“How Can I Help?”

A few days passed. While I was planning my next step, I got a call from my former boss, Abel Chikomo.

“Young man,” Abel’s voice came through the phone, “You need to report for duty. How can I help?”

“How can I help?” is a vital question when you are down and bleeding in the arena. That simple question, and the conversation which followed, was the reason I returned to ZimRights the following week to start the important work of rebuilding the people’s movement.

The Accompaniment Circle

In my farewell message to the ZimRights community on 14 November 2025, I paid tribute to “the giants in the shadows”.

“The success of my tenure was not of my doing. It was the miracle of leadership accompaniment, the community of love that formed itself around me, to cover for my weaknesses, shield my shortcomings, and exaggerate my capabilities. Leadership can be a lonely journey, but I never walked alone… they were there, opening the path for me, unlocking doors, finding solutions, and holding my hand.”

In her book Dare to Lead, Brené Brown speaks about these giants. She calls them the “Square Squad”. She reminds us that there are a million “cheap seats” in the arena filled with people who will never be brave with their lives, but who spend every ounce of energy hurling judgment at those trying to dare greatly. The people who really matter are those who love you not despite your vulnerability and imperfections, but because of them.

I call this the Accompaniment Circle. They are the game-changers who offer:

  • Radical Availability: They are there during the dark nights of the soul.
  • Psychological Safety: They give you the space you need to vent.
  • Institutional Protection: They defend you when you are under attack.
  • Value Shaping: They shape the values that form the DNA of your leadership.

When Abel picked up the phone and asked, “How can I help?”, he became the first in a series of giants who were the grace that God provided to help me lead in the way that I did for the six years that followed . This accompaniment included knowing when my time in the arena was done, and having the faith and humility to believe that beyond me, there is a future for the arena, with me playing a different role.

The Question for You

In my next installment, we will talk about Why you are in the arena, and I will share more from that pivotal conversation with Abel.

But for now, I leave you with this: Who are you leading with?

This does not have to be an accident. You can decide what your Accompaniment Circle looks like. Believe it or not—this will be the most important decision of your leadership journey.

See you in the arena in the next installment.

The beginning: 6 January 2020 (Standing with Dr. Musa Kika)
The transition: 29 December 2025 (Exiting ZimRights House)

Dzikamai Bere is a Conflict Transformation Specialist and Organizational Strategist. He is the former National Director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) and the former Board Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP). He is currently on a sabbatical from frontline engagements, spending time reflecting and documenting his experiences and gaining clarity on his future role. You can follow more of his reflections on leadership, transition, and the “messy middle” at www.theciviclens.org. Comments on this article can be sent to dzikamaibere@gmail.com.