In previous elections traditional leaders assumed the role of ZANU PF campaign managers by forcing villagers to attend ZANU PF rallies and vote for it. In January this year at a government function in Gweru where traditional leaders where handed over new cars, they again pledged their support of ZANU PF. During the BVR exercise traditional leaders were identified as some of the leading perpetrators in the recording of serial numbers from the registrant’s voters slips.24 However, on a positive note regarding the role of traditional leaders in politics, on the 9th of May 2018, Justice Clement Phiri ordered the President of the Chief’s Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira to retract his statements stating a seven (7) day ultimatum to withdraw his statement that traditional leaders would support the ZANU PF presidential candidate in the 30th July 2018 harmonized elections. The Ministry of Local Government was also ordered to take disciplinary measures against him. This followed a court application by the Election Resource Centre (ERC) compelling the chief to retract his statement, which was a violation of Section 281(2) of the Constitution. However, at the expiry of the ultimatum, Chief Charumbira had not complied with the High Court order. Instead, the Chief applied for a rescission of the judgment arguing that he was misquoted. However, on the 18th of June 2018, Chief Charumbira requested a retrial, claiming that he had not known about the case resulting in the case being placed on hold pending a final decision, which never came until the Election Day Administration of elections In general, there was limited trust in ZEC due to the exhibited lack of trust and accountability. As has been the case in previous elections, the voter’s roll remained a contentious issue. ZEC failed to avail the final voters roll to election stakeholders, parties and candidates, consequently the voters roll that was used on polling day was different from the voters roll that was availed to political parties. 24 See The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, State of Human Rights Report, Zimbabwe 2017,http://www.hrforumzim.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/SOHRR-2017.pdf 29