Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network has claimed that there has been a relative improvement in the enjoyment of civic and political rights.
The local independent election watchdog was trying to make sense out of the increased number of political parties contesting in the Lupane East constituency by-elections.
The by-election which will be held on Saturday is meant to fill a vacant post left by ZANU PF legislator Sithembile Gumbo, who succumbed to road accident injuries on April 5.
Speaking ahead of the election in which nine parties are contesting, ZESN said:
Perhaps, the rise in the number of electoral contestants can be attributed to the relative improvement in the enjoyment of civic and political rights, especially the freedoms of movement, assembly, and association for political candidates and their supporters which prevailed in the pre-election period of 2018.
Lupane East has always been a stronghold of the ruling ZANU PF.
More: News Day