expelled from the village. Chief Marozva also ordered Village Heads under his jurisdiction on the 3rd of January where he implored them to mobilise people to attend a rally scheduled for the 4th of January 2017. The constitution prohibits traditional leaders from campaigning or aligning to any political party or grouping for the purposes of maintaining neutrality and objectivity in their work. Section 281 (2a-b) states that traditional leaders must not “be members of any political party or in any way participate in partisan politics” and “act in a partisan manner.” It is therefore, necessary for traditional leaders to respect the constitution by withdrawing from partisan politics and political campaigns unconditionally. It is noteworthy that some of the actors noted as inciting violence and perpetuating human rights violations in Bikita West by-election have also been actively doing the same in the past elections 2001, 2005, 2008 and 2013. Such traditional violence instigators include Nhongonhema, Phillip Dliwayo, Jeppy Jaboon, Joseph Chinotimba, Lawrence Katsiru (Marondera MP), Sabina Kudzongonya (Councillor for ward 9) Charles Tirukai, Fungai Taruona, Peter Munhande (former ward 9 Councilor) and Ngoni Taruona. All individuals and groups involved in election violence should be taken to task by the responsible authorities. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) was also on the ground in Bikita west monitoring the environment and responding to cases, but it was evident that the team deployed was overwhelmed posing a recommendation to the Public Protector office to be sufficiently funded in order to timeously respond to violence.. With a general election coming in 2018, All forms of electoral violence, intimidation and malpractice should be condemned and action taken to deal with perpetrators. 8