1. INTRODUCTION
Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), is mandated to protect,
promote and enforce human rights in Zimbabwe. Section 243(1) (c) confers the
responsibility on the Commission to monitor, assess and ensure observance of
human rights and freedoms. This function is inclusive of the right to free and
fair elections as provided for in the Constitution and the Electoral Act, (Chap
2:13).
In light of this mandate, the ZHRC has been monitoring all electoral processes
to contribute to the promotion of an environment conducive to conducting of
free, fair, transparent and credible elections. The Commission deployed a total
of 23 teams spread across the 10 Provinces of Zimbabwe. The monitors were
able to collect information which forms part of this preliminary report.
Apart from monitoring the political situation, the ZHRC teams carried out their
functions of complaints handling and investigation, as well as human rights
education and promotion as provided for in section 243 of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe.
2. METHODOLOGY
This report is based on the information received from the monitors deployed
across the country and from complaints received.
3. ZHRC FINDINGS
Overall the environment was peaceful compared to previous electoral periods
in the country. However, the ZHRC monitors found that in some Provinces the
pre-election environment was marred by a number of electoral malpractices
which included the following;