The strategy enabled the refinement of CSOs interventions to include consensus and collaborative45 initiatives on advocacy for electoral reforms. These occasioned key advocacy documents, namely the ‘10 Point Plan’ and the ‘5 Key Asks’46. Notable successes achieved by CSOs include the semi-independence of the ZEC as evidenced by bringing the budget into conformity with the constitution and providing ZEC with a budget independent of the Ministry of Justice, as had been the case in the past, and other administrative reforms. The other reforms include, as mentioned earlier, the removal of the requirement for an electoral officer to witness how a visually impaired person votes and the establishment of the Electoral Court as a specialized division of the High Court- also required by the constitution, among others. Furthermore, a new and detailed Electoral Code of Conduct for political parties, which now criminalizes threatening statements by intimidators was enacted. There was also the abolishment of the use of voter registration certificates (registration slips) for voting when a person’s name does not appear on a voters’ roll and the revocation of the Section 40F of the Electoral Act which required all foreign contributions for the purpose of voter education to be channelled through ZEC. The invitation for international observers was extended to include previously banned observer missions such as the European Union, National Democratic Institute (NDI), Commonwealth and International Republican Institute (IRI). Furthermore, several CSOs conducted public and candidates debates or forum that sought to educate the electorate about candidates’ manifestos. ZESN conducted a series of debates dubbed, “Making Elections Make Sense”, while SAPES Trust and other CSOs engaged with policy makers on various issues pertaining to elections. At the community level, other CSOs, particularly Residents Associations such as United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMRRT), Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance(MURRA), Chitungwiza Residents Trust (CHITREST) now Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association(CAMERA), and Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA), engaged local authority candidates and presented citizens manifestos and expectations to aspiring candidates, YETT engaged first time voters, and the ERC conducted a number of radio programmes. Observation and monitoring of electoral processes play an important role in safeguarding election integrity. There are a number of CSOs that monitor, document, and report on election issues to promote transparency, accountability and strengthen the democratic process. In the 2018 harmonised elections, CSOs such as the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), 45 http://www.zesn.org.zw/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ANALYSIS-OF-THE-ELECTORAL-AMENDMENT-ACT-OF28-MAY-2018.pdf 46 http://www.zesn.org.zw/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/The-Key-Asks.pdf 65 | P a g e