ZESN - Promoting Democratic Elections in Zimbabwe 5. EMINENT PERSONS ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION REPORT Electoral Issue Recommendation 30. Voter Registration The ZEC should consider targeted voter registration drives for young people and those residing in the urban areas. Even though more youth registered compared to 2013, their registration rate is low compared to the older age categories. 31. Media The ZEC should enhance mechanisms for monitoring the media and its reports or updates should be publicised. The public broadcaster should ensure fair and balanced coverage of all contestants, as well as the different geographical regions in the country. The media should desist from perpetuating hate speech and fake news. 32. Voters Roll The ZEC should avail the voters roll to stakeholders in time to enhance transparency. The Electoral Laws should be amended to include specific timelines when the voters' roll ought to be made available to stakeholders. Independent external audits should be commissioned by the ZEC to assess the quality of the voters roll; these will go a long way in building public confidence. 33. Assisted Voters Whilst the law is clear as to whom can be a confidante for an assisted voter, the rules need to be applied procedurally so as not to violate the secrecy of the vote. The ZEC Election Manual should provide adequate details on the procedure for assisted voters, so as not to compromise the secrecy of the vote. The ZEC can also consider other measures to reduce the numbers of assisted voters', including comprehensive voter education, use of braille ballot papers for the visually impaired and more vigilance in determining who can be assisted. 34. Results Management System The mode of transmission of results from the polling to the national results centre should also be reviewed to speed up the release of election results to maintain credibility. The Commission should consider establishing an electronic results transmission system to promote accuracy in the results announced and transparency. 35. Women in participation in elections A conducive environment needs to be created to ensure participation of women. The ZEC and political parties should put in place measures to facilitate the increase in the participation of women in elections. Legally binding quotas and enforcement mechanisms should be enacted by Parliament Political parties should devote resources to women candidates to encourage their participation. 36. Inclusiveness Polling stations should be located in places that are easily accessible for the physically challenged. The ZEC should establish the number of voters' who are visually impaired and will require braille ballot papers; this will reduce the number of voters' needing assistance. 6. European Union Election Observation Mission Report Electoral Issue Recommendation 37. Electoral Law The Electoral Act should be aligned with the 2013 Constitution, in particular those provisions related to the constitutional right to vote (including postal voting for homebound voters and those in hospitals and penitential institutions), reinforcement of the independence of ZEC in relation to responsibility for its own regulations, voter registration, and accreditation of observers, as well as the required approval of regulations . 38. Delimitation of Constituencies Constituency delimitation must be carried out in good time prior to the next elections to ensure equal suffrage in accordance with the Constitution. An Act of Parliament could be adopted developing and elaborating the legal framework for boundary delimitation, to also include provisions for consultations with political parties and civil society and a complaints and appeals mechanism before the parliamentary approval process. 39. Independence of ZEC ZEC's independence needs to be strengthened, free from governmental oversight in the approval of its regulations. 40. Multi-Party Liaison Committees There needs to be more frequent MPLC meetings throughout the entire electoral process, so that it is an effective conflict resolution tool for political parties and provides an effective forum for reporting on non-compliance with the Code and for exchanges of views and information with ZEC. 41. Election Management ZEC's management often lacked inclusivity, transparency or effective external communications. For instance, key meetings were cancelled and key decisions were poorly communicated. ZEC's website was relaunched in July but it lacked key information, including resolutions which complement the Electoral Act which is in breach of constitutional transparency provisions. ZEC should offer effective information on all steps of the electoral preparations with full transparency, making all information of public interest immediately and easily accessible, including resolutions and complete and timely publication of polling station results. 75 REPORT ON THE 30 JULY 2018 HARMONISED ELECTIONS ZESN