1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report details the Zimbabwe Election Support Network’s (ZESN) observations of the Mutoko North Constituency National Assembly and the Chegutu East ward 16 by-elections. The Mutoko North Constituency seat fell vacant following the elevation of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic (ZANU-PF) Member of Parliament (MP) Mabel Chinomona to the position of President of the Senate while the Chegutu East Local Authority seat was necessitated by the death of the ZANU-PF incumbent Councillor for ward 16, Silas Chikati on 10 September 2018. ZESN observed the Nomination Court that sat on 12 October 2018 to consider applications of nominees for the by-elections. Three candidates: Boniface Mushore of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance, Rambidzai Nyabote of ZANU-PF, and Edson Mugoma of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) successfully submitted their nominations and subsequently contested in the Mutoko North by-election. The Chegutu East ward 16 by-election was also contested by three candidates of the same parties namely, Patricia Mapfurira of the NCA, Tichaona Muchenje of the MDC Alliance and Obert Mutandinda of ZANU PF. Ahead of the elections day, 24 November 2018, ZESN trained and deployed Long Term Observers (LTOs) to cover all ward in Mutoko North constituency and ward 16 in Chegutu East. The LTOs observed and reported on the environment, and electoral developments and processes in their areas of deployment. It is worth noting that no incidents of violence were reported prior to the election. The environment was peaceful although marked by rife intimidation and the violation of freedoms of speech, assembly, and association. On Election Day, ZESN deployed 76 static and mobile observers to Mutoko North Constituency and 7 observers comprising static and mobile observers to the Chegutu East Local Authority byelection. The observers were furnished with checklists to guide data collection and standardise reporting. ZESN observed that ZEC made commendable efforts in providing Civic and Voter Education (CVE). For the Mutoko North by-election, ZEC conducted training and deployment of its voter education teams on 10 and 11 November, 2018. ZESN complemented ZEC’s efforts by conducting a voter education training workshop attended by 22 participants drawn from local Community Based Organisations (CBOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Social Emerging Groups (SEGs), Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) and cooperatives in Mutoko. Trained organisations developed action plans and ZESN provided voter education manuals and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) material for distribution in the constituency. ZEC conducted voter education for the by-election between 12 and 17 November with one mobile team per ward moving door-to-door, addressing public gatherings, and distributed IEC materials. ZESN also deployed a mobile team that collaborated with ZEC teams between 13 and 15 November and shared IEC it reproduced 5