ZESN - Promoting Democratic Elections in Zimbabwe 6. European Union Election Observation Mission Report (Cont’d) Electoral Issue Recommendation 42. Voter education There needs to be a longer and more comprehensive implementation of voter education activities. The relatively short period for voter education did not address concerns that voters, especially in rural areas, required more comprehensive information, for instance regarding voting procedures and the secrecy of the vote. Further, current provisions on voter education are overly restrictive. 43. Voter registration and voters roll Ensure enhanced voter registration in "under registered" districts of the country to ensure universal and equal suffrage. In order to ensure universal and equal suffrage as well as the right to vote, there is a need to review procedures for the identification of voter addresses (lessening the over-use of pre-commissioned affidavits), to ensure the correct allocation of polling station / ward / constituency for each voter, and to ensure a consistent format for the capturing and registering of voter addresses. Clarify and resolve anomalies identified in voters roll (additionally by official audit and research of voters roll); publish results of deduplication process conducted by ZEC or conduct/finalize a comprehensive new deduplication process including whole voters roll. 44. Traditional Leaders' role in elections Section 281(2) of the Constitution provides that traditional leaders must act in a politically neutral way. Effective mechanisms should be introduced for monitoring and sanctioning of partisan behaviour by traditional leaders and civil servants, to help ensure the impartiality of state structures in the election. 45. Political Parties (Finance) Act Promote accountability and transparency of campaign finance and expenditure by introducing explicit regulations on campaign expenditure, including reporting requirements before the nomination process and shortly after the declaration of results. In order for this to be effective there also needs to be a clear mandate for an independent institution - possibly ZEC - to oversee respect for such regulations and to undertake campaign finance audits. 46. Media coverage Liberalise the electronic media sector, including issuing licenses for community radio stations. There needs to be comprehensive legal reform in order to harmonise current media regulations with the Constitution, in order to adequately safeguard freedom of expression. ZBC needs to be reformed into a truly independent public service broadcaster and state-owned media must abide by their legal obligation to be impartial and provide equitable treatment to all political parties and candidates. 47. Persons with disability Zimbabwe acceded to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2013, but no legislation has yet been introduced to align domestic law with the commitments in the Convention. Incorporate the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into domestic law. 48. Designing and printing of ballot papers EU observers noted that there was little oversight regarding the security of ballot papers. The security of the ballot from printing, deployment to polling stations and on Election Day should be reviewed and procedures clearly announced for future elections. 49. Results management The results management process must be coherent and better explained to all stakeholders in order to enhance the transparency, verifiability and integrity of the election. This could include publishing the original V11 and V23a/b returns. 50. Election complaint mechanism Incorporate provisions for an administrative complaint mechanism within ZEC which will enable voters to seek protection of their rights. 51. Adjudication of pre-election applications filed at the High and the Electoral Courts Establish reasonable and appropriate time limits in the legal framework for the proceedings, hearing and determination of pre-election applications filed at the High and the Electoral Courts, in order for matters to be completed and court decisions rendered well in advance of Election Day. 52. Right of voters and civil society groups to file petitions challenging the results of the National Assembly or local council elections. Introduce provisions allowing citizens and civil society organisations to file petitions against the results under reasonable conditions. 76 REPORT ON THE 30 JULY 2018 HARMONISED ELECTIONS ZESN