Reasons for tensions Administration preventing party activities Security services preventing party activities Manipulation of young people by parties Candidates using hate speech Intimidation of candidates Intimidation of voters Conflict between political parties/candidates 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Number of reports received Figure 10: Reasons for tension in the political environment Some of the reasons stated by LTOs, who reported that the environment in their constituencies was tense, include the intimidation of voters and candidates and conflict between political parties or candidates. The intimidation of voters and candidates was also reported in Chivi Central, Ward 16 where a PRC candidate and his team were threatened by a ZANU-PF activist while they were conducting door to door campaigns. Also, in Zengeza West Ward 7, supporters of the aspiring MPs for the MDC-Alliance had violent confrontations as one group did not allow the supporters of the other candidate to campaign in the constituency. 13 REPORT ON PRE-ELECTION POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT AND OBSERVATION OF KEY ELECTORAL PROCESSES