lost in the primary elections from entering the Nomination Court. Riot police had to intervene.13 ▪ On 14 June, in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe, Mashonaland East Province, police had to be called in to remove one aspiring candidate who had forced his way into the Nomination Court without approval from his party. 14 Media coverage Section 155 (2) (d) of the Constitution obliges the State to provide all parties and candidates with fair and equal access to the electronic and print media both public and private. The State-owned or State controlled media largely dominates the media landscape in Zimbabwe. Allocation of broadcasting licenses has so far benefitted only radio stations directly or indirectly linked to the government. The legal framework for the media, while providing for fundamental rights, needs improvement. Laws such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) and the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) contain provisions that are not in line with fundamental freedoms included in the Constitution such as freedom of expression and of the media (Section 61) and access to information (Section 62). Media (both print and digital) plays an important role in the realization of the right to freedom of expression and participation. Objective and unbiased information helps citizens to make informed decisions in democratic processes such as elections. In general, the media operated in a generally free environment. Although the public print and electronic media was opened up to other political parties and contesting candidates, it remained polarised and skewed in favour of ZANU PF and continued to act as its mouthpiece15 According to the Media Monitors–Zimbabwe report, Government-controlled newspapers The Herald and The Chronicle also heavily favoured ZANU-PF, by 13 See ZESN’s Report on 2018 Nomination Court, June 2018 14 See ZESN’s Report on 2018 Nomination Court, June 2018 15 The Commonwealth, Preliminary Statement of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Zimbabwe Harmonised Elections, 2August2018,http://thecommonwealth.org/sites/default/files/inline/FINAL%20%20Zimbabwe%20Preliminary%20Statement%20-%202%20August%202018_1.pdf, 21