7 Conclusion and Recommendations 7.1 The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission commends all stakeholders responsible for ensuring that citizens enjoy their right to participate in the governance of their country through freely elected representatives in accordance with the national, regional and international legal frameworks. 7.2 The ZHRC commends ZEC and relevant stakeholders for organising peaceful elections despite the resource challenges that saw the disbursement of finances at the 11th hour. It is further commended for ensuring all the vacant constituencies were able to hold elections. 7.3 The ZEC is further commended for its role in educating the public on the elections through the media and as evidenced through the posters that were at and near polling stations informing the public on the elections to be held in the 16 constituencies. The directions to the polling stations were also visible for the public who wished to cast their vote. 7.4 The ZHRC concludes that the voting process was generally peaceful and transparent, save for those constituencies mentioned above where; a. the electorate was escorted to the vote and had their names unlawfully recorded before and after voting as such conduct impedes the right to freely exercise one’s choice b. there was inordinate police presence c. denigration of rival candidate through a “roadshow” campaign. d. defacing and pulling down of posters and other campaign materials 7.5 The Hurungwe West by – election investigation recommendations by the ZHRC is of reference. Page 12 of 15 report and specific