As compared to previous elections, ZEC conducted a robust voter education campaign though there were challenges of limited Information, Education and Communication materials in some places especially in other local languages. In addition, CSOs coordinated by ZESN developed a voter education strategy that aimed to increase turnout for the BVR process and voter turnout on Election Day, targeting mainly the youth, women, and PWDs. ZESN also produced a CVE Manual and other materials such fliers, posters, as t/shirts, hats, caps, and mugs were shared with other CSOs conducting voter education. The manual was the principal tool that guided the CVE planning and content, emphasising the principles of accuracy, non-partisanship and inclusivity. The manual focused on messaging that relates to citizens’ civic and political rights, political participation, secrecy of the vote, de-mystification of the BVR process, and elections. CSOs ran several campaigns, for example, the “VIP” – Vote in Peace by ZESN, Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) campaign “I Pray I Vote”, while the voter education theme of youth organisations, YETT and NAYO was “Ballot Buddies and the Leave no Youth Behind” respectively. Through the #IprayIvotecampaign, the ZCC also conducted the Ecumenical Elections Covenant, which it took to represent what the citizens hoped and prayed for. ZEC and CSO voter education efforts are some of the key factors that contributed to a comparatively high turnout for both the voter registration process and the harmonised election. On a less positive note, ZEC did not act expeditiously to denounce and take action against those who were collecting serial numbers from voter registration certificates. This demand had, and was clearly, designed to have an Intimidatory effect on voters, particularly the rural folk and those in remote parts of the country. 9 POLITICAL PARTIES Zimbabwe’s legal framework does not require political parties to register. Hence towards every general election there is a sudden surge in the number of political parties that emerge with the intention of contesting the elections. Before the Nomination Court sat on 14 June 2018, there were reports of the existence of as many as 133 political parties that wanted to contest the 2018 harmonised election. The number however dropped to 55 after the sitting of the Nomination Courts as some parties did not submit candidates for consideration by the Nomination Court. 9.1 Political Parties Primary Elections Of the 55 political parties that participated in the elections, only ZANU-PF held primary elections throughout the country. The MDC Alliance, on the other hand, relied on a hybrid 51 | P a g e