1.
Introduction
Heal Zimbabwe monitored the electoral environment and the 21 January 2017 by election in
Bikita West. To increase efficiency and effectiveness in doing so, a collaboration with the
Elections Resource Centre (ERC) and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
was forged in the run up to the Election Day. The consortium monitors electoral processes
with a view to protect and promote active citizen participation in democratic processes
without fear of victimisation, intimidation and violence. Heal Zimbabwe takes particular
interest in the electoral environment as part of its civic responsibility in advocacy for peaceful
active citizen participation in democratic governance processes. In addition, the organisation
has been working in Bikita District to build community cohesion, promote reconciliation and
political tolerance. Therefore, by monitoring the electoral environment in Bikita West
constituency, Heal Zimbabwe intended to safeguard the gains of its interventions in the
District and learn at every turn.
Heal Zimbabwe observed that the balloting day was undoubtedly peaceful, albeit few
incidences of intimidation. Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the Police were able
to maintain order within polling stations and broadly within the constituency. Only violations
were recorded that involved intimidation and recording of people’s at the polling station.
However, the political environment before the polling day was outstandingly polarised with
intimidation (56%), vote buying1 and partisan distribution of food aid and farming inputs
(21%). There were also isolated cases of assault (1%), disrupted political gatherings (1%),
forced attendance to political gatherings (12%) and destruction of campaign materials (9%)
A total 58 polling station based volunteer monitors were deployed by Heal Zimbabwe to
monitor the election environment before and during the polling day. The information
collected was verified through 11 trained Human Rights Monitors in the constituency
(Trusted Sources). On the polling day, Heal Zimbabwe also deployed 2 mobile teams of
observers accredited by the ZEC.
1
Vote buying refers to the distribution of or rewarding with material benefits or promises of benefits with an intention to
influence one’s voting behaviour in an election.
2