9 point out that elections were not free and fair because a particular party was favoured in terms of media coverage by state broadcaster or state press but very little is said about any election being flawed on the basis of skewed media coverage favouring male over female candidates. Election observers should therefore look out on the amount of time and space the media devote to covering women candidates. Emphasis should also be put on scrutinise the media content for attitudes towards women candidates. ( G) Political party operations While women can do well in the general society in Zimbabwe, in politics, the structures and processes tend to be especially exclusionary, favouring men over women and creating barriers that women have to surmount in order to participate. A multiple approach is therefore important in generating reforms within political parties, creating support systems for women outside and within the parties and sensitising the general populace about the need for a better electoral system that creates and maintains equal opportunities for both men and women to participate in electoral politics in Zimbabwe. Political parties should come up with best laws and practices that enhance women chances of being elected into offices. Quota systems have been used and the Zipping method of coming up with a party list in PR electoral systems have been advocated for to ensure both women and men are accorded the same political opportunities to occupy offices. Conclusion All members of an election observation mission should be sensitised to all the issues raised in this paper and should pursue information on women’s participation as part of their normal duties. Every meeting with a government official, election administrator, political party representative or other person connected to the election process provides an opportunity to collect information on women’s participation and all observers should seize on such opportunities and effectively exploit them. Collecting statistical data can be particularly helpful in analysing women’s participation and assessing whether are moving in a positive direction for greater women participation in electoral processes.