The Institute has three overriding objectives that are related:
- To promote and strengthen democratic governance through research, publishing and facilitating discussion of topical issues, thereby connecting policy makers with the citizens they serve.
- To facilitate the destruction of the “culture of fear and disengagement” by encouraging people to express their views and opinions on issues that are of concern to them.
- To become a self-supporting and permanent organization that promotes and encourages the institutionalisation of democracy in Zimbabwe.