continues to lag behind in upholding gender balance. Although women constituted the majority of voters, their participation as candidates remained low during this election. Out of the 210 legislative seats only 25 seats were won by women representing 12%. Under proportional representation, out of 270 seats, women got 85 representing 31.5% and of the 80 senatorial seats, 35 were won by women representing 43.5%. In the actual election, the results show that only 12.4% women were elected outside the women’s quota for National Assembly. In spite of all this, for the first time, there was an increase in presidential candidates. There were four women presidential candidates. On a very sad note, women candidates and election officials were targets of hate speech and cyber bullying. They were also subjected to unfair media and public scrutiny compared to their male counterparts.30 However, in spite of all the abuses towards women, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Preliminary Election Monitoring Report notes that female presidential candidates were in the top four despite a wide gap from the top two presidential contenders.31 Participation of persons with disability Persons with disability have reserved representation. Further, Zimbabwe acceded to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2013, but no enabling act of the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as a prohibition on unfair discrimination on disability grounds in Section 56. There was no provision for Braille ballot papers. However, visually impaired people were allowed to be accompanied by a trusted person to assist in the casting of the votes in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act. However, this procedure does not protect the secrecy of the vote as provided for in the Constitution. A High Court application to compel ZEC to provide Braille ballot papers was rejected. 30 Zimbabwe Gender Commission Preliminary Election Monitoring Report on the 2018 Harmonised Elections, 16 August 2018,http://elections.co.zw/zimbabwe-gender-commission-preliminary-electionmonitoring-report-on-the-2018-harmonised-elections/ 31 Zimbabwe Gender Commission Preliminary Election Monitoring Report on the 2018 Harmonised Elections, 16 August 2018,http://elections.co.zw/zimbabwe-gender-commission-preliminary-electionmonitoring-report-on-the-2018-harmonised-elections/ 36