ZESN - Promoting Democratic Elections in Zimbabwe rivals campaign materials; and bias in the public media. The uneven playing field was exacerbated by the absence of legislation that effectively regulates the use of political parties' campaign finances. In instances where the conduct of electoral stakeholders was provided for in the Electoral Act, there was an apparent lack of political will to enforce the law. A notable case of is that of the president of the National Council of Chiefs (NCC) Fortune Charumbira who was taken to court for encouraging other Chiefs to support ZANU PF's 2018 election campaigns. The Court order directing Chief Charumbira to issue an apology within seven days was disregarded with impunity. In terms of Section 133B, subsection (d) of the Electoral Act, it is unlawful to compel or attempt to compel a person or persons generally to attend or participate in any political meeting, march, demonstration or other political event. In the run up to the 30 July election, ZESN received a few reports of some opposition supporters being forced to attend ZANU-PF political party rallies and others who were stopped from attending rallies for their parties by supporters of the ZANUPF party in Zengeza West and ChikangaDangamvura constituencies. Further, on 18 July 2018, suspected ZANU-PF youths reportedly stormed an MDC Alliance rally in Caledonia and indiscriminately assaulted attendees in a matter that was reported at the Mabvuku Police Station. Also, in two reported incidents, one in Bindura, rally attendees were not at liberty to leave ZANUPF rallies in progress. To make the playing field for electoral contestants even, there is need for enactment of appropriate legislation that can regulate campaign finance by political parties. The legislation should provide for audits, disclosure of sources, and limits as to how much money electoral contestants and political parties can spend during campaigns. It is also unlawful to use hate language against other electoral stakeholders. Paragraph 6 of the Fourth Schedule to the Electoral Act Chapter 2:13 prohibits the use of hate language which incites violence towards any individual or group including in speeches, songs, and slogans by any political party or any of its members and supporters, a candidate or any of his or her supporters. In spite of this, some candidates and their supporters used hate language in their campaigns ahead of the election. For example, MDC Alliance supporters scolded the ZANU-PF's top leadership and the party as they sang their campaign songs along Nerupiri Chikomo road on 10 July in Gutu South Ward 30. While there were a few cases of overt violence, there was significant intimidation in the preelection environment. In terms of Section 133A of the Electoral Act Chapter 2:13 as amended up to 28 May 2018, acts that constitute intimidation, or attempts at intimidation, include achieving or attempting to achieve an objective through inflicting or threatening to inflict bodily injury upon a person; causing or threatening to cause unlawful damage to a person's property; withholding or threatening to withhold from a person any assistance or benefit to which that person is legally entitled; persuading or attempting to persuade another person that he or she can or will be able to discover for whom that other person cast his or her vote in an election; and illegally doing or threatening to do anything to the disadvantage of a person for such purposes. In the run-up to the Election Day, threats were made by ZANU-PF supporters that there would be retribution for those who would not vote for the party's presidential candidate. There were also incidents of the withholding of food aid to those who were known or perceived to be nonsupporters of ZANU-PF. For a fair electoral contest, the playing field should be even for all contestants. It is often the case that some perquisites come along with State incumbency thereby skewing the playing field. In campaigning for the election, ZANU-PF unfairly benefitted from the misuse of government resources such as vehicles, helicopters, and state media. The party also enjoyed the privilege to use government venues that other parties were not allowed to use. For instance, in Gokwe Nembudziya the MDC Alliance had to resort to holding party primaries at a homestead after being 42 REPORT ON THE 30 JULY 2018 HARMONISED ELECTIONS ZESN