Appendix B 72 Summary of Initial Observations The mission would like to stress that it is only two days since polling took place and the results are not yet certified. The period for potential legal challenges to the results has not begun, and the law presents the possibility of a presidential runoff election on September 8. It is crucial to see the electoral process to its conclusion, including monitoring any electoral challenges, and installing the legitimate winner to office. It is also important to note that the elections, while vitally important, are themselves an indicator of the nature of the broader transitional process in Zimbabwe. The ZIEOM therefore will continue to observe electoral developments as they unfold. If a solely relativistic approach is applied, simply acknowledging improvements over a history of deeply marred elections could suffice. However, relative improvements are not the same as meeting Zimbabwe's constitutional principles for democratic electoral participation. It is important to view relative improvements in light of such principles. Context: Every election must be seen in its context. Zimbabwe’s 2018 elections are taking place in the context of 18 years of repressed political rights, deepening economic pain, and a history of rigged elections, including the use of wide-spread electoral violence in 2008. Violence and the threat of it were used to a lesser extent in other elections. Exceptional efforts were therefore required to convince the populace that citizens are actually free to make political choices through a ballot that is secret in a process that respects the will of the people and ensures no retributions for choices made. Otherwise, voters could be haunted by the ghosts of past elections. This is all the more important as Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule ended as a result of military intervention. Current Process: Zimbabwe’s July 30 elections present the country with an historic opportunity to break with the past 18 years of political crisis and mark the beginning of a genuine democratic transition. The delegation notes several improvements to the electoral process compared to Zimbabwe’s past elections, though equally important problems give rise to deep concerns that the process thus far has not made the mark. The people came out to vote in great numbers, demonstrating their desire for democratic governance. The process was peaceful and relatively well administered, which underscores the need for all stakeholders to act peacefully and work diligently to honor the people’s will through and beyond the elections. Incremental improvements in the electoral environment during the pre-election period were insufficient to establish broad confidence among the political competitors and Zimbabwe’s sharply divided populace. Thus, no matter what the outcome of the harmonized (general) elections, including a possible presidential runoff, those who legitimately assume office and those in opposition will need to marshal the will and demonstrate concerted efforts to unify the country, if progress is to be made. Civil society and the international community will need to support such efforts while critically reviewing them to ensure their sincerity and effectiveness. Such vigilance in support of genuine democratic progress and credible, peaceful elections is equally important as the presidential election unfolds in the days ahead. Campaigning Political parties and candidates, including those from the opposition, were generally free to campaign across the country without the widespread violence and harassment of the past. This was the most notable improvement over past elections. The most noticeable incident of 2