RECOMMENDATIONS ZESN makes the following recommendations in order to improve future electoral processes: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. The Executive should demonstrate political will to fully align electoral laws to the Constitution by supporting a comprehensive review of the electoral law. This will address existing gaps in voter education constraints, voter registration, electoral court shortcomings and the right to vote for all Zimbabweans. There is need for holistic, and comprehensive, electoral legislation rather than piecemeal reforms. ZEC capacity and independence: Government needs to avail adequate resources for electoral processes so as to enable ZEC to prepare and carry its mandate effectively. There is also need to professionalise and capacitate ZEC Secretariat. ZEC should report directly to Parliament on its election management processes. The Electoral law should empower ZEC to make additional regulations that enhance election transparency without reference to or approval of the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. In addition, there is need to regularise the potential conflict of interest that may arise if the Chairperson of ZEC remains the Secretary of the Judicial Services Commission. There is need for effective stakeholder engagement on the voter registration methodology and resourcing of the process that ZEC will use for 2018 elections. There is also need for independent and ZEC sponsored audits of the voters’ roll so as to determine the extent to which the current voters roll adhere to established principles. There is need for ZEC to provide disaggregated statistics of the assisted voters. Such statistics will support the work of organisations advocating for the rights of the disabled and those seeking to support ZEC formulate more responsive and targeted voter education initiatives. Contesting political parties must ensure comprehensive deployment of political party agents to ensure informed advocacy interventions for electoral reforms. There is need to revisit the issue of boundary delimitation as demographics have changed significantly since 2007 when the last delimitation exercise was conducted. The recommendations above can only be fulfilled if and when there is adequate political will and commitment by the political actors in Government. 12. CONCLUSION ZESN continues to note the recurring gaps and inadequacies in the legal framework of elections. The Network therefore reiterates that electoral reforms still remain a priority in promoting credible elections. ZESN implores political parties, government and parliament to support efforts to speed up the harmonisation of the Electoral Laws to the Constitution and 16 | P a g e