ZESN Report on the 31 July 2013 Harmonised Elections ZESN urges ZEC to make public all election results including the names of candidates as these have not been posted on their website to ensure greater transparency. Post-election The post-election period was characterised by contestations of the election results with losing MDC-T candidates filing petitions at the Electoral Court. In total over 100 petitions were filed. However, most of these petitions were withdrawn as the candidates failed to raise the required US$10,000 deposit required. ZESN notes that while the Electoral Act gives discretion to set up the amount to the Registrar of the Electoral Court, USD $10,000 is too substantial a sum and an unrealistic amount to expect parliamentary candidates to raise. MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai filed a petition seeking to nullify the results of the election. He later withdrew citing lack of access to material that would help him substantiate his claims, the influence of the winning candidate on the judiciary through public pronouncements amongst other issues. The refusal by the courts to direct the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release electoral material also left the MDC-T with little evidence to support their case. The petition resulted in threats of arrests for lawyers working on the MDC-T case. The period has also been characterised by human rights violations such as displacement of observers, MDC-T party agents and supporters, in areas, such as Mashonaland East and Central. A number of observers and party agents have been threatened and some have been displaced. ZESN also notes with concern that President Mugabe has threatened to avenge his defeat in Harare and Bulawayo. The period also saw the resignation of two members of the commission, Commissioner Mthuli Nyathi and Commissioner Geoff Feltoe. While Mr. Nyathi cited the unprofessional manner in which the elections were run as a reason65 the Professor Feltoe did not give reasons for his resignation other than stating that he was going back to lecture at the University of Zimbabwe. LESSONS LEARNT AND RECOMMENDATIONS The July 2013 harmonized elections have become as disputed as previous polls. There is consensus from a number of groups that the elections were free and that they were peaceful. Questions remain about whether the polls were fair and credible. In light of these questions, ZESN makes a number of recommendations with regard to improving the conduct of future elections and the credibility of future 65 http://www.southerneye.co.zw/2013/08/04/zec-commissioner-resigns/ 73 | P a g e