1486 1500 1450 1400 1350 1300 1250 1200 1150 1100 Zaka Rural District Council 1250 2013 2014 ZESN is concerned with the voter apathy that is presenting in these wards which seems to be increasing with each successive election. Recommendations - Comprehensive Voter Education –ZESN observers noted that voter education was lacking among the electorate both in the harmonized elections and in the just ended by-elections hence the need for ZEC to accredit organizations to conduct such education ahead of any election. - Voter Registration-ZEC should be solely responsible for registering voters. Furthermore ZESN noted the irregular use of voting slips during the by-election, there is therefore need for ZEC to train election presiding officers on the lifespan of voting slips. ZEC needs to begin to create modalities for the voters roll to move from the registrar-general’s office to ZEC. This should be done in compliance with the new laws of the country as well as provide time for ZEC to begin operationalizing the polling station based voters roll as provided in the new Electoral Amendment Act. - Violence- ZESN received reports of politically and election related violence in Mbare where supporters of opposing groups resorted to violence during their process of campaigning for votes. We urge the law enforcement agencies to impartially investigate and arrest perpetrators of violence as this is a major inhibitor to citizen participation in community and national processes. - Monitoring of Candidates and Party Activities – ZESN observed undue political influence in the run up to the by-elections particularly in Karoi ward 10 thus a regulatory framework should be put in place to make sure that candidates and parties do not use available resources to buy votes. 6|Page