events. However, LTOs could not ascertain whether ZANU-PF paid or was charged a fee for to use the government resources. In Mutasa Central Ward 12, ZANU-PF aspiring council candidates and the aspiring National Assembly candidate campaigned at a field day event held at Bhonda School. Serious abuses against male and female candidates ZESN also received reports of cases of the abuse of rights affecting both male and female candidates. Figure 7 below shows the numbers of the reports received for the different types of abuses observed. Number of Incidents observed against male and female candidates 30 Number of reports received 25 20 15 10 5 0 Make candidates Femake candidates Figure 7: Abuses against male and female candidates 9 REPORT ON PRE-ELECTION POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT AND OBSERVATION OF KEY ELECTORAL PROCESSES