The
elections
were
competitive,
the
campaign
was
largely
peaceful
and,
overall,
political
freedoms
during
the
campaign,
including
freedom
of
movement,
assembly
and
speech,
were
respected.
However
the
EU
statement
also
included
strong
criticism
and
observed
that:
…misuse
of
resources,
instances
of
coercion
and
intimidation,
partisan
behaviour
of
traditional
leaders
and
overt
bias
in
state
media,
all
in
favour
of
the
ruling
party
meant
that
a
truly
level
playing
field
was
not
achieved,
which
negatively
impacted
on
the
democratic
character
of
the
electoral
environment.7
The
US
Observer
team
had
similar
concerns
noting
that
while
the
electoral
process
compared
favourably
with
Zimbabwe’s
past
elections,
‘important
problems
gave
rise
to
deep
concerns
that
the
process
thus
far
has
not
made
the
mark.’8
In
addition
to
these
criticisms
a
joint
statement
by
international
observers
also
denounced
‘the
excessive
use
of
force
to
quell
protests
and
urged
the
police
and
army
to
exercise
restraint’.9
Mnangagwa’s
response
to
these
events
and
the
scepticism
of
the
international
observers
was
to
announce
the
establishment
of
a
Commission
of
Inquiry
into
the
Post-‐Election
Violence
on
the
1st
August
2018.
The
terms
of
reference
for
the
Commission
include:
• To
inquire
into
the
circumstances
leading
to
the
1st
August
2018
post-‐election
violence.
• To
identify
the
actors
and
their
leaders,
their
motive
and
strategies
employed
in
the
protests.
• To
inquire
into
the
intervention
by
the
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
in
the
maintenance
of
law
and
order.
• To
investigate
the
circumstances
which
necessitated
the
involvement
of
the
military
in
assisting
in
the
maintenance
of
law
and
order.
One
of
the
major
challenges
that
the
Commission
faces
will
be
to
resolve
the
conflict
over
which
element
in
the
command
structure
of
the
political
and
military
hierarchy
gave
the
order
for
the
army
to
take
control
of
the
demonstration
on
the
1st
August.
Hitherto
none
of
the
leadership
in
either
the
political
or
military
structures
have
been
willing
to
take
responsibility
for
the
actions
of
the
military.
This
has
led
to
some
speculation
about
possible
succession
battles
between
President
Mnangagwa
and
his
Vice
President
and
Minister
of
Defence
during
that
period,
Constantino
Chiwenga.
However
the
dynamics
around
these
events
have
yet
to
be
unveiled.
7
EU
Observer
Mission
Republic
of
Zimbabwe
Harmonised
Election
2018.
Preliminary
Statement,
1
August
2018.
‘US
Observers
say
that
Zimbabwe
vote
marred
by
abuses
and
bias’.
Bloomberg,
2
August
2018.
9
Joint
Statement
by
International
Observation
Missions
to
Zimbabwe’s
Harmonised
elections
30
July
2018.
2
August
2018.
8
7