PART C The Election Day The Forum deployed 40 election observers, these (included the secretariat and the human rights monitors in the country’s ten provinces) to observe the voting on the 30th of July. The Election Day was generally peaceful. Most polling stations opened on time. However, there were cases of voter intimidation and voter buying. The following are some violations that were noted on the Election Day. Violation of the Constitution by Traditional Leaders Section 281(2)(a) and (c) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No.20 provides that traditional leaders must not be members of a political party, or in any way participate in partisan politics or act in a partisan manner. These are principles that traditional leaders must comply with. Traditional Leaders are duty bound to keep away from engaging in politics or openly declaring their political interests. Any such conduct is an affront to the Constitution. On election day, sadly, . some traditional leaders were reportedly shepherding their villagers to the polling boothsin areas like Mudzi, Muzarabani and Buhera South. with an instruction to vote for ZANU PF in what is popularly known as “sabhuku nevanhu vake” (a village head and his subjects). There was partisan involvement of traditional leaders in the electoral process. According to the reports from the Forum’s monitors, traditional leaders were deployed as election agents for ZANU PF. These reports were also buttressed by ZESN’s preliminary report, which states that in Gokwe, Chireya area, approximately 30 traditional leaders were deployed as election agents representing ZANU PF. The conduct of the traditional leaders was in violation of the principles to be observed by traditional leaders as entrenched in the Constitution. 31