On a positive note, some members of the public assisted ZHRC monitors in identifying the areas where the polling stations had been established. The ZHRC teams proceeded with the monitoring exercise relying on its constitutional mandate to monitor the human rights situation in the country and managed to cover many areas including the provinces where the leadership had refused to cooperate. Some party members and local level leadership cooperated and in some instances and even sought the guidance of the ZHRC officials on some matters of concern. 4.2. The General Election Environment Section 67 (2) (c) of the Constitution states that every Zimbabwean citizen has the right to participate in peaceful political activity. Prior to and during the primary elections the environment was generally peaceful as observed in some of the following areas: Mwenezi District, Chivi Central, Harare North, Mutare Central, Masvingo West and North, Buhera, Kwekwe Central, Chiredzi District, Zaka District, Mutoko District, Murehwa District, Uzumba District, Mudzi District, Bulawayo East, Pumula, Nketa, and Luveve. Although the general outlook of the ZNAU PF elections in most parts of the country were peaceful, in some areas there were underlying negative incidences that were taking place. One such incident was observed at Machipisa Highfields Polling Centre. ZHRC arrived at the centre at around 4:30 PM and observed the electorate quietly queuing in an organised manner. ZHRC interviewed one of the organising officials who confirmed that the process was moving swiftly and peacefully. However, one of the ZHRC monitors enquired from some members of the public about the general overview of the process, they stated that people were scared to speak or make any complaints to the ZHRC owing to armed police officers overseeing the process. ZHRC monitors confirmed the presence of these armed police officers stationed in a car parked close to the polling station. ZHRC team noted that the presence of armed police officers at an intraparty election was intimidating and infringed on the right to freedom of expression as well as compromising the role of police as they could be perceived as partisan. Cases of violence were also noted in areas such as Epworth, Mabvuku and Tafara Constituencies, where the voting processes were interfered by other ZANU PF party members. Page 8 of 22