Preliminary Statement on the Mutoko North and Chegutu East By-Elections

As part of its comprehensive efforts to observe the Mutoko North National Assembly and Chegutu East Local Authority by-elections, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) trained and deployed 82 election observers to every polling station, ward and constituency collation centres in the Mutoko North constituency and Ward 16 of Chegutu East Local Authority. The Mutoko North by-election is the first National Assembly by-election to be held after the 30 July 2018 Harmonised elections while the Chegutu East Local Authority by-election is the second.

This Preliminary Statement is based on reports from the observers who comprised of static observers based at polling stations and collation centres as well as mobile observer teams who were roving around the Ward. Generally, the two by-elections were held in a peaceful and calm political environment, despite incidents of partisan food aid distribution, destruction of campaign materials and hate speech during pre-election period.

Source: Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)