PRACTICES OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS DURING ELECTIONS This section analyses the situation on the ground, Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) case reports and extant literature to establish whether traditional leaders comply with their constitutional and legal obligations. Traditional leaders can play a pivotal role in pre-election period by mobilising residents and disseminating electoral information. In 2018, the ZHRC noted how the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) placed posters at chiefs, headmen and village heads’ homesteads. These leaders were also given flyers and pamphlets for onward distribution.36 ZEC and other organisations accredited to conduct voter education relied on traditional leaders for mobilisation of communities while conducting their voter registration and education exercises.37 Working with the decentralised institution of traditional leadership, organisations disseminated election-related information through traditional and community gatherings. Pursuant to their role in entrenching peace in society, some traditional leaders in the Midlands and Manicaland provinces called upon their subjects to shun violence during the 2018 elections.38 Nonetheless, many traditional leaders remain accused of fanning political violence against opposition supporters in contravention of section 133A (a and c) of the Electoral Act.39 Many of these traditional leaders also remained silent when their subjects were intimidated and suffered gruesome human rights abuses. During the elections in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2013, violence was instigated by war veterans, youth militias and statealigned security forces. War veterans and youth militias established camps and bases to assault and kill opposition supporters and activists.40 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 14 ZHRC (n 32) 21. As above. Fayawo (n 27). Mwonzora & Mandikwaza (n 3) 1144 Fayawo (n 27). As above. Musekiwa (n 7) 242. Fayawo (n 27). European Union (EU) (n 5 above) 2. Those who survived these gruesome attacks either towed the expected political party line or migrated to other areas. While the law obliges traditional leaders to be impartial, research shows how the institution has been used by politicians to canvass support for certain political parties. Fayawo notes how several village heads and headman in Zhombe openly supported the opposition MDC-A during the 2018 elections.41 Some village heads were also assimilated in party structures to coordinate electoral activities.42 There is also evidence of village heads canvassing votes for political parties, in contravention of the Electoral Act. WHILE THE LAW OBLIGES TRADITIONAL LEADERS TO BE IMPARTIAL, RESEARCH SHOWS HOW THE INSTITUTION HAS BEEN USED BY POLITICIANS TO CANVASS SUPPORT FOR CERTAIN POLITICAL PARTIES During voter registration and education exercises, some traditional leaders misled their subjects into believing that pictures taken during the biometric voter registration process would be used to trace how people vote.43 Some traditional leaders are also accused of tracking voting preferences of registrants whose registration slip serial numbers