population28.An analysis of the registration figures at the end of the four phases indicated that Harare and Bulawayo had recorded the lowest percentages of registered voters, which were 54.5 % and 50 % respectively. The Midlands province, on the other hand, had 77.3 % of its target, signifying the highest registration rates at the end of phase 4 of the BVR exercise. Factors that impacted negatively on registration outcomes included that the proclamation of BVR dates was not preceded by voter education to inform voters about the location of registration centres and the requirements needed for one to register under the BVR system. Consequently, registrants only got to know of the requirements at the point of registration resulting in some being turned away without registering. In addition the registration dates were affected by the BVR kits procurement challenges which led to the revision of the commencement of voter registration exercises. This is turn has a knock on effect on preparation of subsequent electoral processes such as inspection of the voters’ roll and preparation of the voter register. Other challenges that were encountered during the BVR process included: logistical issues with accreditation which resulted in delays in the delivery of observers’ accreditation lists to provincial ZEC offices; missing accreditation lists; high costs of accreditation; malfunctioning of the solar-powered kits during the rainy season; the proof of residence requirement; the absence of Commissioners of Oaths at some centres; prospective registrants bringing inappropriate identification documents such as a driver’s licence; registration centres running out of the VR1 and VR9 forms and the print roll for registration slips; and the changing of officially announced registration centres for the phased registration process without notification. 6.6 Mop-Up Voter Registration Exercise In response to widespread calls for an extension of the registration process, ZEC conducted a mop-up voter registration exercise from 10 January to 8 February 2018. Simultaneously, ZEC also introduced mobile registration centres, to make registration centres more accessible to citizens who still wanted to register. Unfortunately these efforts were hindered by the fact that the mobile registration centres were not publicised and, in many instances, not located in the areas that had been identified as high traffic centres 28 According to statistics released by ZEC a total of 4,727,376 people were registered during the 72 day long exercise representing 65% of the 7,224,128 million projected by ZESN in 2017. See <http://www.zesn.org.zw/wpcontent/uploads/2018/01/ZESN-2018-Population-Projections-for-Zimbabweans-Aged-18.pdf> 36 | P a g e