Key Violations Zimbabwe Peace Project FINDINGS FROM BY-ELECTION INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT ZPP recorded a total of 11violations of harassment and intimidation in the four byelections. The violations affected a total of 1574 people. On 14 June 2025, a ZANU PF We Chairman are at the highest we've been since 2002. Congratulations everyone! District in Gutupoint district gathered community members at a to dip tank located just outside the restricted 300-meter radius of Dambara Primary School Polling Station in Nyazvidzi, Gutu East Constituency. He then proceeded to intimidate and coach these individuals on how to vote. Gift Gonese, an independent candidate in the Gutu East parliamentary by-election’s polling agents confirmed that they filed a report regarding this intimidation and campaigning within the restricted 300-meter radius with both the Polling Officer and the Police. In Chipinge Rural District Council’s Ward 5, members of the ruling party, ZANU PF, used violence and different forms of intimidation to scare voters. Traditional leaders (village heads) and political activists made public threats during rallies, warning people that they could be evicted from their land if they voted against the ruling party. They also threatened violence. Several groups, including villagers from both within and outside the ward, were placed at key points near all seven polling stations. Their job was to remind people to “vote correctly.” These groups were seen directing voters, taking down their names, and making threats—creating a tense and frightening environment throughout the ward. Two male candidates said they were visited at night by strangers before the election. One manager at a farming estate was threatened, and his family and workers were badly beaten by people looking for him. In addition to these activities at the polling stations, commuter omnibuses transported individuals from outside Ward 5 into local townships who were aggressively campaigning forcing people to attend meetings thus violating their freedom of assembly and association. This movement of individuals from external areas further contributed to the pervasive atmosphere of fear and intimidation. The alarming threats have caused community members to vote in fear, especially considering the trauma from the gross acts of violence that characterized the 2008 and 2013 elections. 6

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