scorched-earth policy to rid the rural areas of any real or imagined supporters of MDC-T. Tsvangirai had to withdraw from the race, but ZEC went ahead and conducted the election which Mugabe won “resoundingly”. The extent of violence alarmed the regional organisations, including the SADC and the AU, who saw the need to address the political crisis and violence in Zimbabwe. The then Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa was forthright in his condemnation of political violence in Zimbabwe; while other regional leaders like former South African President Mbeki refused to acknowledge the crisis in Zimbabwe even after receiving a revealing report about the extent of violence from his own generals. However, it is when reports of concern about the political crisis started coming from different quarters, including the United Nations, the pressure on the government to find a lasting solution to the Zimbabwean crisis increased. The result of these efforts was the Government of National Unity (GNU) between ZANU PF and the MDC formations which was consummated in 2009. Notwithstanding its weaknesses, the GNU blew a breath of fresh air to a beleaguered nation with a battered and wounded society and its economy. The GNU provided the political parties the possibility of working with others and to be tolerant, but it also allowed ZANU PF time to recover and in the elections that came after the expiry of the GNU it was able to stage an unbelievable landslide come back. However, many still think that 2013 harmonised elections were a master rig, even though the elections were conducted in a peaceful manner.16 The 31 July 2013 harmonised elections in Zimbabwe included presidential elections and elections for both houses of parliament (the National Assembly and the Senate), provincial councils, and local councils. This is the second time all elections were held on the same day, the 2008 elections being the first. The practice has now been written into the 2013 constitution. The partially directly elected province councils were first introduced by the new Constitution and the electoral system was changed by the introduction of elements of proportional representation17. The elections were conducted in terms of the Electoral Act, which Mr. Mugabe amended using presidential powers even when the parliament 16 Matyszak, D.A (2013), Odd Numbers? June 2013. Harare: Research & Advocacy Unit; Matyszak, D. M (2013), Fairly Fair. The 2013 elections. November 2013. Harare: Research &Advocacy Unit; Matyszak, D. A (2014), An examination of the Performance of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in Managing the 2013 Elections in Zimbabwe. December 2014. Harare: Research & Advocacy Unit; 17 Vollan, K. (2014), The Elections in Zimbabwe on 31 July 2013. A NORDEM Special Report, 6