c. The elections conducted on the 30th of July 2018 were peaceful and orderly as supported by the observer missions’ reports. d. The election itself was adjudged to have been free and fair by most observers as per their reports. e. The Commission was struck by the deep polarization between the country’s two main political parties — ZANU PF and MDC Alliance — and their supporters. f. On the basis of the evidence presented, the Commission found on a balance of probabilities that the protests were pre-planned and well-organised as shown, for example, by the evidence of the pre-election speeches of the MDC Alliance leaders and the evidence of all of the events that took place on the 1st of August 2018 including the fact that groups arrived with an assortment of objects such as containers of stones, bricks, logs and posters, which they used in their demonstrations. The protests were not limited to Harare only but also occurred in some other urban areas such as Gweru where properties were also destroyed. g. The demonstrations started peacefully in the morning in front of Harvest House, MDC Alliance headquarters, and degenerated into violent protests as the demonstrators split and moved to HICC, ZEC Headquarters and ZANU PF headquarters (western side of the CBD) and ZANU PF Provincial Offices (eastern side of CBD) as the day progressed. h. The Commission found that the rioters were forcing ordinary people who were conducting their day to day business to join the riots. This move did not spare the physically incapacitated members of the public. 43 43