1. INTRODUCTION The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) was formed in 2000 and is a network of 31 non-governmental organisations. The major focus of the Network is to promote democratic processes in general, as well as free and fair elections in particular. ZESN is the secretariat of the Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN-SA) and is a member of The Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM). Following the invitation by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), ZESN deployed observers to Epworth, Marondera Central and Mbire, on 19 September, 2015 for National Assembly by-elections. The network makes use of its membership and short-term observers in observing the preelectoral period and the Election Day processes. Reports from observers form the basis of election reports and other advocacy initiatives for electoral reforms. ZESN is non-partisan and independent in its approach to election observation. ZESN election observation missions are guided by the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Electoral Laws of the country and a number of regional and international standards and principles, conventions and declarations which Zimbabwe is signatory to, such as the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). ZESN conducts its observation efforts in conformity with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, the Declaration of Global Principles for Citizen Election Observation and Monitoring which was launched at the United Nations on 3 April, 2012 as well as the Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO). The organisation is also guided by the GNDEM’s Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organizations, Code of Conduct for Nonpartisan Citizen Election Observers. 2. BACKGROUND By-elections in Zimbabwe are held in terms of Section 158 (3) of the Constitution and Section 39 (2) of the Electoral Act. Accordingly, President Robert Mugabe called for byelections to fill the National Assembly Constituency vacancies in Epworth, Marondera Central and Mbire. Statutory Instruments 73/2015 and 80A/2015 proclaimed 19 September, 2015 as the date for by-elections in Marondera Central, Mbire and Epworth respectively. The by-elections held on 19 September, 2015 bring the total number of National Assembly by-elections held this year to 22. The following by-elections have been held this year: 7|P a g e