TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION BY ZCBC-CCJPZ BISHOP CHAIRMAN............................................................................i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................................. vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...........................................................................................................................viii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................................. xi 1. CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE IN ZIMBABWE ........................................1 1.1 About CCJPZ ....................................................................................................................................1 1.2. Social Teachings of the Church ....................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Zimbabwe Catholic Dioceses and Districts.......................................................................................2 2. WHAT DO ELECTIONS MEAN TO ORDINARY CITIZENS? RESPONSES ADAPTED FROM CCJPZ ELECTION INTEGRITY SURVEY ............................................................................................3 2.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................3 2.2. Purpose of the Survey ...................................................................................................................... 3 2.3. Guiding Questions.............................................................................................................................3 2.4. Responses Made .............................................................................................................................. 4 2.5. Some Inferences - What does this mean?..........................................................................................4 3. THE POSITIVES OF 2018 HARMONIZED ELECTIONS - BUDDING INGREDIENTS FOR FUTURE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS...............................................................................................4 3.1. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................4 3.2 The Operating Environment..............................................................................................................4 3.2.1. Relative Peace ........................................................................................................................5 3.2.2. Minimum Use of Oppressive Legislation ...............................................................................6 3.2.3. Opening to International Observers .......................................................................................6 3.3 Administrative Improvements by ZEC ............................................................................................ 6 3.3.1. ZEC Assumption of Voter Registration; BVR Process and Voter Education..........................6 3.3.2. ZEC Dialogue and Engagements with Stakeholders – Multi-liaison Committees' Meetings .............................................................................................................6 3.3.3. Nomination Court.................................................................................................................. 7 3.5. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................7 4. THE CONTEXT OF 2018 HARMONIZED ELECTIONS: WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER? ...............................................................................................................................................7 4.1. To be the Doers of the Law (Romans 2:13) - Paying Equal Attention to all the Flock the Holy Spirit has made you to Oversee (Acts 20:28) ..........................................................7 4.1.1 Living in Harmony with each Other (Rom. 12:16): Recognizing Diversity, Inclusion and Cohesion as Positive Values .............................................................................8 4.1.2 Universal Access to the Common Good – De-politicization of Agriculture Inputs and food, a Fundamental Basic Right .......................................................................10 4.1.3 Peace and Reconciliation – Avoiding Reliving Fear Accrued from Previous Electoral Violence .................................................................................................................11 4.1.4 Considerate Distribution of Political Party Regalia ..............................................................13 4.1.5 Hating Robbery (Isaiah 61:8-9): Respecting People's' Choices during Primary Elections ..................................................................................................................14 4.1.6 Equal Access to the State Media ..........................................................................................15 ix