The political parties are bound by the Fourth Schedule to the Electoral Act, which provides for the Electoral Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, hereinafter referred to as the Code. The purpose of the Code is to promote conditions that are conducive to free and fair elections and a climate of tolerance in which electioneering activity may take place without fear or coercion, intimidation and reprisals. In terms of the general principles of the Code, all political parties and their members and supporters must promote conditions conducive for free, fair and democratic elections. The Code prohibits politically motivated violence and intimidation and no political party or its members and supporters may use violence, or threaten or incite or encourage violence. In light of these provisions, the actions of MDC Alliance as set out above, contravened the terms of the Code. 3.8. MDC Alliance Leadership’s response to these allegations Having heard extensive evidence on the MDC Alliance’s role in the 1st of August 2018 protests, the Commission considered it fair and just to hear from the MDC Alliance leadership. It therefore specifically invited MDC Alliance leader Mr. Nelson Chamisa and another senior official Mr. Tendai Biti to give evidence. In his submissions to the Commission, Mr. Chamisa categorically denied that the MDC Alliance played any role in the 1st of August 2018 protests. He said that the MDC Alliance leadership never gave any instructions for the demonstrations to take place on the 1st of August 2018, adding that his Party could not have organised protests because it believed it had already won the presidency and had no cause to engage in protest action. 20 20