• Bring any irregularity or apparent irregularity in the conduct of the poll or the counting or collating of the votes to the attention of the Commission. Previously monitors could, in addition to the above, request the presiding officer of a polling station or a constituency elections officer to take appropriate corrective action to redress irregularities and apparent irregularities. The Electoral Commission must obviously accredit sufficient numbers of local and international observers to allow comprehensive observation of elections. In particular, it would be expected to accredit adequate numbers of persons from local civic organisations, especially those who have had experience previously in observing elections. The numbers of observers accredited in 2008 will need to be far higher than in previous elections, since there will be many more polling stations as a result of the increased number of parliamentary constituencies as well as the number of elections taking place simultaneously. The system of accreditation should be non-bureaucratic. For local observers the system should be decentralized. Foreign observers should be able to apply for accreditation by post. One possible anomaly arising from these provisions is that no one who is unaccredited will be allowed to “observe” elections. In view of the very wide definition of “observe”, this could mean that anyone who tries to bring apparent irregularities in polling to the Commission’s attention will contravene the Act if he or she is not an accredited observer. Journalists who take an interest in the electoral processes may also contravene the Act. SADC has sought to mediate between the two main political parties to try to ensure that a framework is put in place to ensure that the upcoming election in Zimbabwe is free and fair. It is important that the period leading up to the next election be free of the sort of violence and intimidation that has marred previous elections. SADC therefore has a strong interest in ensuring that there is a peaceful climate over the entire period leading up to the election. It would therefore be a salutary measure for SADC to request to send a special pre-election mission team, say three months in advance of the election, to assess the pre-election environment. Voter education Under the current Electoral Act, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has primary responsibility for conducting a programme of voter education. The Amendment Bill includes further provisions on voter education (Clauses 9, 10 and 11.). The Commission must commence a programme of voter education not later than 90 days before the polling day of an election. The elections in 2008 could be held as early as March 2008, and this would require the Commission to start voter education immediately. However, the Commission has been provided with a totally inadequate budget and as a result has had to cut back its voter registration. Its ability to conduct a thorough and effective voter education campaign will obviously be adversely affected by financial and human resources constraints. However, the Amendment Bill does provide that the Government must give the Commission whatever assistance it may require to conduct voter education. In conducting its programme the Commission will be expected to ensure that those it employs have sound knowledge of the electoral laws and processes and that they remain scrupulously impartial and do not show bias for or against any particular political party. This obligation is provided for in the current Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act, which obliges the Commission to conduct accurate and unbiased voter education. Given the likely constraints upon the Commission in providing an effective campaign of voter education, it is imperative that civic organisations be allowed to conduct their own programmes. The current Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act contains various restrictions on civic organi- 12