At Bikita Minerals Recreational Hall in ward 30, 11 of 92 people who had voted had been assisted by 10:00 hours, at Makondo Primary School, 21 people had been assisted out of 153 votes casted by 10:00 hours, at Mukanganwi Secondary School, 20 people had been assisted out of 125 votes casted by 10:00 hours and at Birivenge Primary School in Ward 12, a total of 26 people of 292 people had been assisted by 14:00 hours. The Election Presiding Officers indicated that reasons for assistance were mainly old age, blindness and multiple sclerosis. However, given that Heal Zimbabwe once recorded cases where people were told to declare themselves illiterate, these high numbers could indicate coerced assistance. In the observed polling stations, voting assistance was mostly done by two ZEC officials and one police Officer. However, there are cases where assisted voters would come with someone. While it is lawful to have assistance in voting (Electoral Act Section 59), it is against the law to coerce people to declare illiteracy or partial blindness so that they can be assisted to vote. Assisted voters must choose who to assist them in accordance with section 59(1a) of the Electoral Act as opposed to coercion into deciding who should assist them to vote. Figure 6: January 21st Final Bikita West By-Election Results 11