Two major events helped to shape the political climate and human rights situation in the country in April. These were the Independence Day celebrations and the ZanuPF primary elections at the end of the month. The Independence Day celebrations resulted in a marked rise in incidents of coercion as ZanuPF officials in different parts of the country forced members of the public to make donations for the celebrations. The ruling party’s primary elections on the other hand accounted for a noticeable rise in cases of intraparty squabbling and occasional violence as aspiring candidates competed for nomination.