9. POLITICAL CLIMATE On the surface, the BVR process took place in a peaceful environment with limited harassment, coercion and violence against potential registrants. However, the process did not occur in a political vacuum and was affected by the political climate in the country, primarily related to the leadership changes through a military involvement in civilian political processes that occurred in November 2017. While the apprehension that followed these developments affected everyone in the country, the military, ZEC and later, the new government, encouraged citizens to continue with normal business. It is worth noting that this significant political development occurred in Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the BVR process, where it was supposed to peak. The beginning of Phase 2 recorded some spectacular figures including the highest (131,719), second highest (127,500) and third highest (116,881) daily statistics of the BVR Blitz process on the 2nd and 1st of November 2017 and 31st October. This upward trend seemed to have been checked by political developments, with the BVR process affected by the climate of uncertainty. Phase 2 eventually averaged 75,542 daily registrants despite the high showing at the beginning, and Phase 3 produced the lowest daily average at 67,716 registrants per day. At the height of the November political developments, ZESN noted some worryingly low figures at some centres. The following examples illustrate:  Arex House, ward 12 Bikita west, five people registered on 16 November 2017,  Luveve Depot Hall, in Ward 16 of Bulawayo recorded four people on 17 November 2017,  Silver stream, Umguza in Matabeleland South registered two people on 18 November 2017,  Masuku primary school A, in Bulawayo South, registered three people on 21 November 2017. Outside this significant political development, the BVR Blitz political climate was also characterized by intimidation, harassment and obstruction of observers, intimidation and harassment of registrants, misinformation of citizens on the purpose of the BVR process. In most instances, the perpetrators of harassment and intimidation did so with impunity, with no recorded reprimands or arrests registered. In addition to intimidation, the political climate was also characterized by uncertainties regarding ZEC, the BVR process, the electoral process and future role of the military as well as disposition of the new dispensation on free, fair and credible elections in the aftermath of the November Political developments. The Figure below highlights these key variables, some of which are described in detail below it. 37