to vote in the women’s quota category. This finding of denying males to cast a vote for the women’s quota is a violation of Article 21 (1) of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights which provides that everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives as well as section 3(2) (b) (i) and 67 (3) (a) of the Constitution which stipulate an electoral system based on universal adult suffrage and equality of votes as well as the right, of every Zimbabwean citizen above the age of 18, to vote. Therefore, as a result it affects the recognition of the process as free and fair. 4.8. Vote Buying Vote buying violates the spirit of fair elections provided for in section 67 (1) (a) of the Constitution as well as section 3 (a) of the Electoral Act. Incidences of vote buying were visible in some Constituencies such as Gokwe South, Chegutu West and Masvingo North, as candidates distributed groceries to the electorate. The incumbent Member of Parliament for Gokwe-Sengwa, overshadowed the other candidates with gifts in the form of school books and groceries for the electorate. In Kwekwe Central it was alleged that one candidate had paid $21,000.00 to Kwekwe City Council for utility bills for prospective voters, bought four Honda Fit cars for district chairpersons, paid school fees for domestic workers’ children and bought groceries such as cooking oil and mealie-meal.5 In Muzarabani ZHRC monitors were informed that there was a truck loaded with rice which was brought by one of the aspiring candidate. It was alleged that the rice was supposed to be distributed to the electorate after the voting exercise. ZHRC gathered that the electorate were becoming worried over the delays in the voting process as this would equally interfere with the distribution of the rice. However, ZHRC did not manage to establish whether or not the rice was latter distributed. 4.9. Incidences of Violence The SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (SADC Principles) define fair and peaceful elections as electoral processes that are undisturbed and untroubled by violence or intimidation and are conflict free and generally exude an atmosphere where all citizens are free and unhindered to express 5 This information was provided by the electorate and could not be independently verified by ZHRC Page 14 of 22