Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum upsurge in political violence almost as soon as the candidates were announced. Two people died, and the MDC was forced to abandon its campaign a week before polling. ZESN monitorslxxix reported that Zanu-PF had threatened eviction, death and a return to war to produce a favourable result. The by-election in Marondera West on 25-26 November 2000 was won by Brigadier Ambrose Mutinhiri (retired) for Zanu-PF with 7 376 votes, against the MDC's Shadreck Chipangura (4 366 votes), and Egypt Dzinemunenzva of the African National Party (377 votes). The total poll was 12 322 (32,9%) while at least 1 944 were turned away, some because they were registered in other constituencies.lxxx The second by-election, to fill the loss of the MDC's Bikita West MP, Amos Mutongi, will be held on 13-14 January 2001. Boniface Pakai (MDC), a local businessman, will take on Zanu-PF's previously unsuccessful candidate, Claudius Mukova. By mid-December, violence had flared in this constituency ahead of the by-election. The MDC, learning from its experience in Marondera West in November 2000, imported protective supporters and met violence with violence. Following the death of a Zanu-PF member, scores of MDC supporters were arrested as the state-owned media emphatically claimed that it, not Zanu-PF, was ‘the party of violence’. By year-end, only four ZanuPF members and 110 MDC supporters had been arraigned on legal charges. Electoral Challenges The MDC challenged 38 constituency results in the High Court, in Bikita West, Bindura, Buhera North, Chegutu, Chikomba, Chinhoyi, Chiredzi North and South, Chivi North, Gokwe Central, East, North, South and West, Goromonzi, Guruve South, Gutu North, Gwanda South, Hwedza, Kariba, Makoni East and West, Marondera East and West, Masvingo South, Mazowe East and West, Mberengwa East and West, Mt Darwin South, Murehwa North and South, Mutoko South, Mwenezi, Shurugwi, Zvimba North and Zvishavane. The challenge in Marondera West was terminated by the death of the Zanu-PF MP who died in a car crash, but on losing for a second time by a much smaller margin, the MDC candidate instigated another suit. Two additional challenges were mounted by individuals, apparently without MDC party backing, to bring the total to 40.lxxxi Three issues formed the core of these exemplary challenges: intimidation, irregularities and 'treating'. The last was also reported weeks before polling in the Marondera West and Bikita West by-elections. A flood of electoral irregularities was reported, including multiple voting. The names of some voters who had voted were not crossed off. Dead voters’ names were crossed off the rolls, indicating that they had voted. Some polling booths did not have all their voters’ rolls. Some rolls had whole name sequences (eg. surnames beginning with M) missing. Lists of voters were not sealed by every polling station, nor were electoral records always kept in sealed packets. During and after the count, rolls from different constituencies were mixed together. Some books of extra ballots issued went missing. Some ballot box seals were not signed. Ballot papers with numbers outside the issued sequences were found in some boxes. In some boxes, there were more ballot papers than had had been recorded as being issued. Some ballot boxes were opened when polling agents were not present. Some polling agents were denied entry to some counting centres. In Chitungwiza, a power cut caused polling stations to close two hours early on the first day, and monitors were required to leave without checking and sealing the ballot boxes. All these deficiencies and irregularities infringed Zimbabweans’ political rights to choose freely whom they wished to represent their interests in government. As the legal process developed, a number of challenged Zanu-PF MPs, including two ministers (Herbert Murerwa and Sydney Sekeramayi) dissociated themselves from alleged 'corrupt and illegal practices' and 'atrocities' committed by ‘war veterans’.lxxxii One threatened MP (for Murehwa North) hoped that 'the opposition shall see reason and withdraw ... 33