EU Election Observation Mission
Zimbabwe
Harmonised Elections 2018
Preliminary Statement
Page 2 of 12
1 August 2018
measures were undermined by ZEC’s persistent lack of inclusivity and transparency. Further, the
election management body became embroiled in a number of contentious issues, including the
layout of the presidential ballot, modalities for printing and distributing ballots, poor procedures
for confirming ballot security between printing and election day and the conduct of postal voting.
ZEC also failed to make full or proper use of the Multi-Party Liaison Committees (MPLCs).
These issues contributed to a deterioration in the relationship between the electoral commission
and the opposition in the weeks before the election.
The switch to biometric voter registration (BVR) so close to the time of the election was a major
challenge for ZEC, which assumed responsibility for the roll for the first time. Data indicates a
reasonable capture rate for eligible voters, though with lower levels of registration in urban areas
in particular and a number of errors which remain to be resolved. The manner of sharing the voter
roll with stakeholders proved contentious and, while acknowledging the effort ZEC made in
undertaking the BVR, its lack of transparency and failure to provide clear and coherent
information about voter registration overall added to a sense of mistrust by stakeholders.
The campaign was largely peaceful, with freedoms of movement, assembly and expression
respected, and both the main presidential candidates held numerous rallies across the country.
However, while political rights were largely respected, there were concerns regarding the
environment for the polls and the failure to achieve a level playing field. Observers widely
reported on efforts to undermine the free expression of the will of electors, through inducements,
pressure and coercion against prospective voters to try to ensure a vote in favour of the ruling
party. Such practices also included direct threats of violence, pressure on people to attend rallies,
partisan actions by traditional leaders, collection of voter registration slips and other measures to
undermine confidence in the secrecy of the vote, manipulation of food aid and agricultural
programmes and other misuses of state resources.
Based on EU EOM monitoring, the state broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation
(ZBC), failed to abide by its legal obligation to ensure equitable and fair treatment to all political
parties and candidates. State-owned TV, radio and newspapers, which dominate the media
landscape, were heavily biased in favour of the ruling party and incumbent president in their
election-related coverage. Media operated in a generally free environment during the campaign
and freedom of expression was respected. The legal framework for media, while providing for
fundamental rights, needs further improvement to bring it into line with the Constitution.
In the direct election for the National Assembly, only 14.75% of candidates were women and
women were nominated in just 126 of the 210 seats. But via the additional proportional list
system for the Assembly, a large number of women will nevertheless be elected to parliament.
On the day of the election EU observers reported positively on the conduct of voting.
Zimbabwean citizens turned out in large numbers and despite some lengthy queues the voting
process was managed well by polling officials who worked hard to process voters. Some
problems with the voter roll, or lack of voter awareness of their polling location, were evident.
Party agents were present in most places, but polling officials did not always check for indelible
ink. Further, there appeared to be a high degree of assisted voting in some places. The vote count
in polling stations was reasonably well organised, though procedures were not always followed,
inconsistencies were noted and there was inadequate light in some places. The result was posted
at the polling station in many instances, but not all. The collation of results is on-going and we
continue to observe this. It is important that the final results are shared in a manner which
provides for full transparency and accountability, including a breakdown by polling station.