18 IRI/NDI Zimbabwe International Election Observation Mission Final Report assaults, detentions, and abductions of opposition supporters and leaders in certain regions of Zimbabwe.8 In the post-electoral period, more than 30 petitions were filed with the Zimbabwe courts challenging the announced results of the elections including, most notably, the Constitutional Court petition filed by Chamisa challenging the results of the presidential election. ZIEOM observers tracked the petitions and witnessed the Constitutional Court proceedings. From September 4-7, ZIEOM organized a high-level post-election delegation, which included two co-leaders from the ZIEOM short-term observation delegation.9 The purpose of the mission was to assess the formation of a new national government; the potential for inclusive governance and the role of civil society in promoting a reform agenda; the post-election security environment; and provide recommendations to improve future electoral processes. The delegation met with a variety of stakeholders, including members of civil society, political party leaders, and the international community, and convened a roundtable discussion with a range of civil society organizations. The ZIEOM’s approach to election observation included assessments of all three phases of the electoral process: pre-election; Election Day (including voting, counting, tabulation, and announcement of results); and the post-election period. The ZIEOM office was established in April 2018, employed more than 30 staff and, in October 2018, closed operations concurrent with the end of the post-election observation period. During the seven-month observation period, ZIEOM issued seven statements. 8 9 See Appendix E. Former assistant secretaries of state, Ambassador Johnnie Carson and Constance Berry Newman.