THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM Reforming Zimbabwe’s Security Sector Ahead of Elections Zimbabwe’s unity government, consisting of the former ruling Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU-PF) and the two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions, has failed to reform the state security forces despite their continued interference in the nation’s political and electoral affairs ahead of the 2013 general elections . The heads of the military, police and Central Intelligence Organization have, in many situations, publicly and vocally demonstrated their support for President Mugabe and ZANU-PF. The Elephant in the Room: Reforming Zimbabwe’s Security Sector Ahead of Elections describes how the partisanship of the security forces’ leadership has translated into abuses by the army and police against the MDC and civil society organizations across the country. Beyond the open endorsement of ZANU-PF, the security forces have been deployed throughout Zimbabwe, intimidating and beating supporters and perceived supporters of the MDC and civil society activists. Although the current and proposed constitution and various laws require neutrality and impartiality from the security forces, no effort has been made to enforce them. No members of the security forces are known to have been disciplined or prosecuted for acting in a partisan manner or committing criminal offenses against the MDC and its supporters. The role of the security forces is likely to have an effect on the ability of Zimbabweans to freely vote during the elections. Human Rights Watch calls on the unity government, with support from the Southern African Development Community, to urgently take steps to ensure the political neutrality of the security forces, by investigating and prosecuting alleged abuses by security force personnel, publicly directing the leadership of the security forces to carry out their responsibilities in a professional and impartial manner, and appropriately punish or prosecute those who fail to do so. Zimbabwean national army soldiers on parade during the Defence Forces Day celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, August 14, 2012. © 2012 JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/GettyImages hrw.org