away and stay in Harare foreverǁ (sic). The young generation have the following mantra for prospective political candidates before the support and promise to vote them: ―we want to smoke youǁ (buy us cigarettes); ―we want to drink youǁ (buy us alcohol and soft drinksǁ; ―we want to eat youǁ (buy us food with plenty of meat). In future, political parties should adequately plan and reflect on how best to maintain peace and respect human life and dignity before taking their regalia to communities. 4.1.5 Hating Robbery (Isaiah 61:8-9): Respecting People's' Choices during Primary Elections The conduct of primary elections across political parties held in May 2018 ahead of 30 July 2018 Harmonized Elections could have been done better. Some of the primary elections conducted by both ZANU PF and MDC were characterised by late delivery of ballot papers, logistical challenges missing candidate names on some ballot papers, excess ballot papers, staffing of ballots, allegations of poll rigging, election violence, imposition of candidates and vote buying.22 In Budiriro, for example, MDC youths blocked the main entrance to a community hall during the party's primary election complaining against imposition of candidates. In areas such as Mabvuku, Mbare and Glen Norah, MDC primary elections had to be postponed after some logistical challenges. A vehicle was stoned in Waterfalls after MDC supporters disagreed on the primary 23 election procedures. ZANU PF primary election candidate and their supporters forced themselves into a polling station during a primary election in Centenary demanding ―everything to stopǁ alleging staffing of ballot boxes with ballot papers. Officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police had to drag primary election candidates and their supporters in Sanyati Central during a ZANU PF primary election complaining of a manipulated voting process. There was burning of ballot papers in Murewa South and missing names on voters' registers in Seke Constituency during ZANU PF primary elections. There were logistical challenges in Mutasa South during a ZANU PF primary election. Ballot papers arrived at 6pm and voting ended at 1am. In Kwekwe Central, a car and a gate was destroyed in primary election related disagreements whilst some political party members refused to vote in a 24 ZANU PF primary election held in Mutasa South after some ballot papers went missing. Money exchanged hands ahead of primary elections in Chivi South as enticement for traditional leaders. One CCJPZ long term observer from the Diocese of Masvingo narrates: The primary elections made some people ―richǁ in Chivi North. Some police officers and traditional leaders also benefited. Crispy $100 notes were dished out to many primary election voters. We did not even know where they came from given the queues that we see every day on our banks. The traditional leaders have been promised bicycles. They will collect them during 25 a luncheon, the primary candidate has promised for the traditional leaders. More could have been done in preparation for the primary elections - ballot papers, voters' rolls and all the material needed for the smooth flow of the primary elections. Prophet Isaiah provides a justifiable condemnation of unfairness because ―for I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoingǁ (Isaiah 61:8-9) 22 Also see http://businessdaily.co.zw/index-id-national-zk-43505.html; https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/main/zanu-pf-rigged-its-internal-primary-elections/ accessed on 1 October 2018 23 http://businessdaily.co.zw/index-id-national-zk-43505.html; https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/main/zanu-pf-rigged-its-internal-primary-elections/ accessed on 1 October 2018 24 25 Also see https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/main/zanu-pf-rigged-its-internal-primary-elections/ accessed on 3 October 2018 CCJPZ Observer, July 2018 14