efforts at many polling stations to ensure easy access to those who were advanced of age and those with physical challenges. For Instance Highfield West Constituency, ZHRC observed a separate queue for older persons and those with disabilities. This was in line with the provisions of Article 29 (a) of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which provides that State Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, by voting and further ensuring that voting procedures and facilities are appropriate and accessible. However, there were some shortcomings in Constituencies such as Hovani, Gokwe South, where people were moved from Sengwa primary school to which they had travelled distances of over 7km to reach Sengwa, but were told to proceed another 14km. The change discouraged most voters, particularly the Special Interest category, who decided not to proceed to the new voting centres. In Matebeleland North Province, voters complained that polling stations were not readily accessible to the public, considering some were placed 20km away. In Kwekwe Central Constituency there were allegations of change of polling stations to a far distance place on the eve of the elections, majority of the electorate particularly the elderly were not aware of these changes and could not access such areas due to the long distances. 4.13. Secrecy and Security of the Ballot Unlike the National Electoral process, where voters can make their choices in a voting booth secretly, the process during the ZANU PF Primary elections was not the same. In almost all the polling stations that the ZHRC monitored, voters would make their choices whilst standing in the open. A worst case scenario was observed at Kuwadzana West Constituency where the whole voting process was conducted in the open with no structures such as a building or a tent. In Chiredzi people were crowded around voting tables. Some of the aspiring candidates and party supporters were displeased by the fact that the process lacked secrecy. There was also lack of a standard for the ballot boxes. At some polling stations, ballot papers were placed in cardboard boxes and at some Constituencies such as Chegutu West and Chitungwiza buckets with lids were used as ballot boxes. Page 18 of 22