Most of the problems with zellij people have initially can be fixed if they write the config file from bottom up..just comment everything out and you'll get to your desired config in 15 minutes.

Use the 'clear-defaults=true' option for each mode and build the config.

E.g.resize mode for me looks like this

  resize clear-defaults=true {
        bind "Esc" { SwitchToMode "Normal"; }
        bind "h" { Resize "Increase Left"; }
        bind "j" { Resize "Increase Down"; }
        bind "k" { Resize "Increase Up"; }
        bind "l" { Resize "Increase Right"; }
    }

Normal mode:

  normal clear-defaults=true {

        // Quit/detach
        bind "Alt x" { Quit; }
        bind "Alt d" { Detach; }

        // Switch modes
        bind "Alt p" { SwitchToMode "pane"; }
        bind "Alt r" { SwitchToMode "resize"; }
        bind "Alt t" { SwitchToMode "tab"; }
        bind "Alt s" { SwitchToMode "scroll"; }
        bind "Alt m" { SwitchToMode "move"; }

        // new pane or resize pane
        bind "Alt n" { NewPane; }
        bind "Alt >" { Resize "Increase"; }
        bind "Alt <" { Resize "Decrease"; }

        // move between panes (moves tabs if at the last pane)
        bind "Alt h" { MoveFocusOrTab "Left"; }
        bind "Alt j" { MoveFocus "Down"; }
        bind "Alt k" { MoveFocus "Up"; }
        bind "Alt l" { MoveFocusOrTab "Right"; }

        // swap layouts
        bind "Alt {" { PreviousSwapLayout; }
        bind "Alt }" { NextSwapLayout; }

        bind "Alt 1" { GoToTab 1; }
        bind "Alt 2" { GoToTab 2; }
        bind "Alt 3" { GoToTab 3; }
        bind "Alt 4" { GoToTab 4; }
        bind "Alt 5" { GoToTab 5; }
    }