2.4. Responses Made ● 90% of the respondents, especially from urban areas were affirmative of elections as an indispensable democratic process. They said that elections bring hope of ―new thingsǁ. They however cautioned that they are usually drawn into voter apathy when elections and their outcomes fail to bring any changes or improve their lives: ― sometimes it would seem as if we are electing candidates to give them opportunities to amass (state) wealth for themselves and their familiesǁ. ● For more than 95% of respondents, especially those from peri-urban and rural areas, elections means: w Fear, violence, coercion and intimidation, especially by traditional leaders and political activists; burning of houses and killing of political opponents: ―the word election reminds us of 2008 violence - elections are events where we should just vote correctly', do away with them and continue with our lives. w Opportunities for hand-outs, free food, free beer and free clothes (political party regalia) w Internal displacements, especially if there is Presidential run-off. Election means possibilities of deserting our homes and being internal refugees. They mean sharing space with cattle, chickens or wild animals in the mountains after internally displaced for voting for the candidates of our choice. w Opportunities to be ― employed as election observers and political party agents: ―it is a once in five year's opportunity for the unemployed to get some immediate disposable income. 2.5. Some Inferences - What does this mean? ● The failure of elected leaders to be responsive enough to the needs and expectation of voters could make elections irrelevant to the society and therefore create voter apathy. It emerged from the survey that the voters do not have adequate skills or strategies to demand better governance and responsiveness from those they would have elected. As a result, elected leaders would ―betray voters, forcing them to withdraw or exit from effective participation. Platforms for engagement and dialogue between voters and elected leaders are therefore critical. ● Elections and violence, at least in the Zimbabwean context, are closely linked. The result has been passive voting. It emerged from the survey that fearful voters would just vote to ―get ridǁ of the electoral process. Such a context would not make any election free and fair! The challenge is to assist communities overcome fear and to regain confidence in electoral processes. ● Elections have been commercialized. They have also been seen as opportunities to get some ―employment, food, drinks and regalia. Due to lack of responsiveness from elected leaders as mentioned above, voters see elections, especially the campaign period, as the only opportunity they have to benefit from prospective candidates. After being elected, some would go away and stay in the urban areas and come back to the communities that voted for them after almost five years to seek reelection. ● The survey identified the following general lingo of what the voters say to prospective candidates when they visit their communities to seek political support: ―before we listen to you, we want to ‗eat you' (give us something to eat); ‗smoke you' (give us cigarettes to smoke); ‗drink you' (buy us alcohol, beer and soft drinks) and ‗wear you' (give us T-shirts or something to wear as your regalia). It is therefore critical to restore the dignity of elections so that they could be viewed in the context of the purpose they are supposed to serve. 3. THE POSITIVES OF 2018 HARMONIZED ELECTIONS - BUDDING INGREDIENTS FOR FUTURE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS 3.1. Introduction Zimbabwe's journey to 2018 Harmonized Elections was characterized by relative improvements in the electoral environment and administrative processes. 3.2 The Operating Environment 3.2.1. Relative Peace There were minimum levels of physical violence before 2018 Harmonized Elections. Whilst there was intimidation especially by some traditional leaders that promised a repeat of 2008 violence if Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) loses 2018 Harmonised elections, it was not as blatant as before. There was a general agreement, especially by political parties, that Zimbabwe history of election violence should be stopped. Twenty three presidential candidates for 2018 Harmonized elections expressed their commitment to avoid violence in the election period 4