The state broadcaster has without any doubt failed to fulfill its mandate to grant equal and equitable access to radio and television to all the contesting parties in the successive elections held in recent memoryas enjoinedunder the SADC Principles and Guidelines on the Conduct of Democratic elections, the country's constitution and the Zimbabwe Electoral Act. Zimbabwe must not missan opportunity to make the legislative framework conform tothe Constitution and other regional and international instruments that the country is signatory to. Imperatively, ZEC should take the lead in enforcing the constitutional provisions on access to state media by all political contestants and ethical reporting. These are provided for in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, Banjul Declaration on the Principles of Freedom of Expression in Africa, Southern Africa Protocol on Sport, Culture and Information and the African Charter on Broadcasting. In the absence of the said reforms, the SADC Guidelines and Principles on the Conduct of Democratic Elections will not be fully adhered to ahead of, during and after the 2018 poll. As a result, Zimbabweans will not fully enjoy media freedom, their right to freedom of expression, assembly, association, and access to information.Further, the continued failure of the state broadcaster and newspapers to provide equal access to the political players makes the competing environment uneven resulting indisputes on the credibility and fairness of the envisaged elections. SADC Guidelines and Principles on the Conduct of Democratic Elections in the Southern African region and the Electoral Act are instructive in formulating policies that will address problems of the past. They provide for: · Equitable treatment of all political parties and candidates in the extent, timing and prominence of the coverage accorded to them. · A clear distinction between factual reporting and editorial commenting on the election. · The affording of a right to reply to any claims by the political parties or candidates concerned to be false and that the media does not promote political parties or candidates that encourage violence or hatred against any class of persons in Zimbabwe. Thus in line with dictates of the constitution and regional instruments on the holding of elections it is recommended as follows: Reclaiming Public Media ahead of 2018 Elections info@zesn.net zesn2011@zesn.net www.zesn.org.zw