Elections in Zimbabwe present a dark moment as threats of violence linger in the air, intimidation, killings and disappearances of people. Without a comprehensive national peace and reconciliation process electoral fear in particular and freedom of expression in general will remain real amongst many Zimbabweans. The disappearance of Mr. Itai Dzamara on March 9, 2015, for example, reminded many that there could be fatal risks associated with freedom of expression. According to the Human Rights Watch20, state security agents had repeatedly threatened Mr. Dzamara, prior to his abduction, to stop leading protests against the deteriorating political and economic environment – including petitioning the President to resign to allow for electoral reforms and fresh elections. The impression created by the threats and intimidations ahead of 2018 Harmonized Elections was that whenever somebody tries to independently and freely assert their rights – as Mr. Dzamara did or as many did prior to previous elections – they may be made to disappear, tortured or even killed. Mr. Dzamara's disappearance could be seen in a broader context of sustaining fear as a strategy of restraining freedom of expression, participation, association and democracy against the values and aims of Zimbabwe's constitution. The following are some of the cases recorded through CCJPZ long term observation initiative: Case 10 Nyasha Marange son of Chief Marange intimidated MDC Alliance supporters in Ward 10, Mukungatu Village in the Diocese of Mutare on 16 July 2018. Nyasha Marange was the chief campaigner for Percy Muchimwe, a House of Assembly candidate and used hate speech to intimidate the electorate towards the elections. He said if they don't vote for Percy Muchimwe and ZANU PF Presidential candidate they will repeat what was done in 2008. Here are the words she said in vernacular, ―Vanenge vashaisha kuvhota tichakugurai maoko kuita short sleeve, imimi vakadzi muchaita shirikadzi varume venyu vasingacharari mudzimba " Those who would make their independent political choices, we will cut their hands in the elbows... and for you women, most of you will become widows because we will kill your husbands who would have voted MDC Case 11 On a Wednesday before July 2018 Harmonised Elections, a rally was organised at Gondo Shopping Centre, Chivi North, where Ms. Memory Gudhe and Mr. Wilfred Mugura - who claimed to be war veterans - told gathering men and women that those who would vote for the opposition political parties, will have their fingers chopped off. They also told the rally that after elections, there will be thorough beating of everybody - ‗kucharohwa munhu semunhu‟ - if the opposition wins 2018 Harmonized Elections. The old people and the illiterate were told that they should not bring anybody to assist them to vote in the 2018 Harmonized Elections since ―the political party will provide somebody to assist youǁ. The rally was also warned that if the opposition wins, those known to support the opposition will be dispossessed of their plots in local (Gondo) irrigation scheme. Case 12 On 29 June 2018, I, Reason Tawanda Kandeya, was dressed in my MDC regalia at Nyikavanhu Business Centre, Ward 15 of Chirumanzu Zivagwe. Later in the day, I saw a lorry dropping a group of about twenty young people at Nyikavanhu Business centre. The group quickly surrounded me. Led by Councillor Raphael Mapete, they shouted insults at me, accusing me of putting on MDC regalia. The group manhandled me and forced me into one of the shops. Mr. Robert Huzvu forced the MDC T-shirt I was wearing over my shoulders, leaving my upper body naked. I was not physically assaulted, but the way they scrambled for me - and pulled me in different directions was painful. I reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Republic Police under case number RRB 3397379. Mr. Robert Huzvu was fined $20.00. However, the message was sent: I was pulled around in front of community members who, I think, learnt a lesson that having a different political mind set was tantamount to public harassment. Since the incident, and all what happened to supporters of the opposition in the previous elections, many people here are afraid to openly associate with the MDC – or any other political parties they like. 12