The Eastern Caucus (TECA) solidified its position as a rising force within Africa’s liberal policy advocacy landscape at the recent Africa Liberty Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. Among a global gathering of think tanks and freedom champions hosted by Atlas Network and Students for Liberty on the 31st of July to 1st of August 2025, TECA achieved significant recognition: their innovative “Prosperity Catalysts Club” initiative was shortlisted for the prestigious Atlas Network Smart Bets Competition. Standing alongside established organizations like Nigeria’s Ominira Initiative and Morocco’s Arab Centre for Research, this nomination served as a powerful tribute to TECA’s impactful work. It underscored their dedicated mission to empower Zimbabwean youth and fundamentally shift mindsets from dependency on handouts towards fostering a culture of productivity and self-reliance, a core tenet of their growing influence.
TECA’s influence extended far beyond the awards shortlist. The organization played a pivotal role in shaping critical continental discourse, most notably through the participation of its founder Mr Nyasha Freeman Musikambesa in the high-level roundtable, “The Future of Democracy in Africa: Rising Authoritarianism & Fighting the Enemy from Within.” This urgent session, examining threats like election interference and shrinking civic space, featured TECA sharing vital on-the-ground insights from across Africa. By contributing practical strategies for defending freedom and rebuilding democratic trust alongside representatives from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation(FNF) and Aso Times, TECA demonstrated its capacity to engage at the highest levels of policy conversation. Their presence in this crucial dialogue highlighted their unique perspective on combating democratic backsliding within the Eastern African context and beyond.
The forum provided a vibrant platform for TECA to showcase its philosophy and connect with a pan-African network of liberty advocates. Echoing the belief that “#ideas truly run the #world,” TECA reaffirmed its commitment to driving positive change across Zimbabwe, specifically targeting poverty alleviation and youth development. Our approach, focusing on empowering marginalized communities and fostering economic freedom, resonates deeply within the forum’s atmosphere of collaboration and solution-seeking. Engaging with organizations like ACEYE (recognized in the Africa Liberty Awards), LOLA, and others championing entrepreneurship and leadership across the continent, TECA absorbed new perspectives while sharing our own model for impactful, locally-grounded advocacy centered on human dignity.
The Africa Liberty Forum 2025 marked a definitive moment for The Eastern Caucus. Being shortlisted for a major international award alongside established think tanks, actively contributing to seminal discussions on democracy’s future, and connecting deeply within the continental liberty movement all signal TECA’s remarkable ascent. No longer just a Zimbabwean voice, we have emerged as a formidable and respected actor within the Eastern African policy sphere and the broader African liberal advocacy network. Our focus on youth empowerment, mindsets transformation from welfare dependence to productivity, and practical solutions for economic freedom positions us as a crucial and growing catalyst for liberty and prosperity, proving we are indeed a force to be reckoned with in shaping Africa’s policy future.
