guest column:Election Resource Centre Dear President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, alarmed by the unprecedented challenges to democracy, human rights and governance created by the pandemic, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) nurtured the idea for this open letter. The aim is to stimulate a national dialogue around key principles safeguarding elections and democracy on the second anniversary of the 2018 harmonised elections. The ERC recognises that this is a very challenging time for the government and people of Zimbabwe as the country deals with the threat posed by the COVID-19 virus. The government has already taken some important steps, and others may be necessary to protect those at risk. However, the pandemic has seemingly left behind in its wake the reform agenda that had pillared the new dispensation. It should be noted and applauded that commendable steps have been taken to repeal the repressive Public Order and Security Act and Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act laws, which had posed a perpetual threat to the principles underpinning a democratic society and free and fair elections. Such positive steps are key in rendering credibility to the overall electoral environment. However, the pace at which the reforms are taking place could potentially negate the gains achieved by your administration. From the advent of your ascension to Presidency in 2017, you outlined the basis that would inform your leadership, as you stated that your Presidency would be founded on a new dispensation, of which reforms formed the foundation. In your very first public speech upon your return from a self-imposed exile in November 2017, you assured Zimbabweans that they were witnessing the beginning of a new unfolding democracy. Premised on this new democracy was the alignment of existing laws to the Constitution and the changing of the electoral culture in Zimbabwe through advocating for the promotion of accountability, credibility and transparency among State institutions. Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi echoed similar sentiments as he promised that all laws would be fully aligned to the Constitution by the end of 2019. The government also made an undertaking to amend the Electoral Act by mid-2020, according to Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Sibusiso Moyo, who is the deputy chairperson of the inter-ministerial taskforce on political and electoral reforms. He promised that electoral reforms “will be completed, at the very least, by June 2020, although we aim to complete electoral reforms well before that date”. However, two years since the 2018 harmonised elections, this promise of expedited reforms is seemingly beyond reach. The post-2018 election environment has been dominated by non-implementation of key reforms, most of which have been repeatedly raised by election observer groups. A glaring example is that of the Kgalema Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry where in a rare instance of transparency, the government allowed for an open inquest into the August 1, 2018 sho