As part of its efforts to promote democratic electoral processes in Zimbabwe, ZESN observed all the four phases of the BVR process in all ten provinces of Zimbabwe with at least 1 observer per ward. ZESN deployed more than 2 012 observers for the BVR blitz and 263 static observers for the mop up exercise. ZESN deployed static observers at district registration centres as well as at randomly selected centres across the country. In addition mobile observer teams were also deployed in all the 10 Provinces. The data transmission process was also observed. 2.2 Objectives of Observing the BVR Process  To provide an oversight of electoral processes 2.3 Defining: Biometric Voter Registration BVR technology uses physical features, which are unique to every individual for purposes of identification. These physical features include fingerprints, facial scans, voice recognition and other features, which are unique to each person. Since any two individuals do not identically share these features, the BVR system helps to create a more accurate system of identification and eliminates the problem of duplications, which has blighted previous voters’ rolls and elections. 2.4 Distinguishing BVR and Biometric Voting It is important to note that Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) is not the same as Biometric Voting (BV). BVR is only concerned with the registration of voters and compilation of the voters’ roll. BV on the other hand is broader because it includes BVR and the actual process of voting where biometrics are also used. In Biometric Voting, the entire process, from registration to voting on polling day would be based on biometrics. This is not the case in Zimbabwe’s forthcoming elections where BVR is only used in the voter registration exercise but not on actual polling day. Below is a timeline of critical BVR processes observed by ZESN and covered in this report; 7