equivalent free voting procedures.25” The right to participation, assembly and free expression is safeguarded in Sections 67, 58 and 61 of the Zimbabwe Constitution respectively. These rights are also enshrined in regional and international human rights instruments that Zimbabwe is a party to such as SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, the ACHPR, and the ICCPR among others. These sets of rights are highly tested during election time. Section 67 of the Zimbabwe Constitution gives citizens the right to participate peacefully in political processes, including voting. However repressive laws such as the infamous POSA and AIPPA act as barriers to the realization of the right to participate in public life. Human rights violations and participation Zimbabwe has a history of unresolved human rights violations abetted by a culture of impunity. Most of the electoral violence happens in the rural areas to an extent that the rural people have not participated freely in elections from as far back as 2000 following the formation of a formidable opposition party the MDC. Indeed some communities are still haunted by the 2008 violence. Memories of the 2008 so -called ‘short’ and ‘long sleeves’ and the military led “Operation makavhotera papi” (Operation where did you place your vote) are still very fresh in most people. Further, some of the perpetrators of human rights violations leave in communities as the victims. As such genuine participation is compromised as some will participate and make decisions based on their fears. This is exacerbated by traditional leaders who have become partisan and have openly shown their allegiance to ZANU PF to an extent they have become ZANU PF campaign managers. In October 2017 Chief Charumbira at a meeting of traditional leaders in Bulawayo openly declared that traditional leaders would support ZANU PF in the elections. Furthermore, partisan village heads are responsible for compiling lists of beneficiaries of food aid and agricultural inputs. As such villagers are either dissuaded from participating in political processes or they do so out of fear of retributive violence. 25 See Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of human rights and section 155 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe 34