30 IRI/NDI Zimbabwe International Election Observation Mission Final Report Campaign Environment Campaigning by political parties began several months prior to the May 30 proclamation of the election date, but party activity formally commenced with the sitting of the Nomination Court on June 14. In some areas, campaign activities were slow to start and intensified with greater visibility for candidates and parties as Election Day approached. As in previous elections, parties implementing campaign activities remained subject to POSA, which required parties to obtain police permission at least four days prior to any event in which more than 12 people would be gathered. Notably, unlike in previous elections, this law was not enforced in a manner to prevent parties and candidates from organizing political events during this election campaign period. Campaign activities included large and small-scale rallies, community meetings, door-to-door canvassing, distribution of leaflets, posters and billboards, sponsorship of sporting or cultural events, and the use of media and social media. Overall, ZANU-PF had greater visibility throughout the campaign period due to an abundance of resources and a highly disciplined organizational structure. Both ZANU-PF candidate Mnangagwa and MDC Alliance candidate Chamisa held large rallies throughout the country, while smaller parties, as a result of limited financial resources, tended to concentrate on door-to-door campaigning and small cluster gatherings to foster close connections with voters. Most rallies and campaign events observed by ZIEOM were peaceful, festive, and without inflammatory language or intimidation. Candidates also participated in public forums and panels organized by CSOs and other stakeholders where they could present their manifestos and key messages and answer questions from the public in various locations around the country.36 Political parties and candidates, including those from the opposition, were generally free to campaign across the country and express their political views without the widespread violence and harassment of past elections—with the exception of a grenade attack at a June 23 rally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa at White City Stadium in Bulawayo, which injured at least 49 people were injured, including the country’s vice president, and killed two people. On June 26, the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), a constitutional body, initiated a National Peace Pledge aimed at encouraging candidates and political parties to commit to observe peace and abide by the electoral code of conduct. All 23 presidential candidates or their representatives pledged to observe peace during the campaign period and the subsequent post-electoral period, which was a positive new development in the 2018 elections. In all ten provinces, political parties and candidates willingly participated, and the NPRC held well-attended public events deploying mobile caravans along the way. Though the freedom to organize and speak freely during the campaign period was a welcome new development during this election cycle, unfortunately the overall environment was compromised by widespread intimidation. ZIEOM observers received multiple reports of intimidation, threats, and physical violence directed at opposition candidates and/or supporters. For example, in Mt. Darwin in Mashonaland Central, ZANU-PF supporters prevented opposition candidates from campaigning. Methods of intimidation included reminding citizens of the violence that took place during the 2008 elections and the lingering threat of similar violence in the event of a runoff or if the ruling party were to lose. Other threats involved destroying homes or the loss of land for those living in resettlement areas without title deeds. Reports of military personnel in civilian clothing 36 E.g. Silveira House, Jesuit Social Justice and Development Centre, National Multiparty Interface: Promoting Peace and Mutual Respect in a Multiparty Zimbabwe on July 19, 2018; E.g. ZESN, Making Elections Make Sense on April 26, May 30, June 21, July 5, July 12, July 19, 2018