Recommendations  CSOs play a critical role in ensuring a credible election. Their contribution to promoting a culture of democratic governance in Zimbabwe is historical. The Group encourages the ZEC to provide these organisations with greater access to electoral information to enable them to fully perform their functions.  CSOs expressed concern about the high accreditation fees for citizen observers. The Group urges the ZEC to ensure that fees for citizen observer groups are not prohibitive, given their important role: citizen observers often have the numbers on ground, as well as local knowledge that international observers may lack.  The Commonwealth Observer Group encourage CSOs to continue engaging in voter education with all segments of the population, with an emphasis on marginalised groups. Faith-based organisations Religion has a significant influence in culture, society, beliefs and practices among Zimbabweans. The constitutional right to freedom of religion by every Zimbabwean is enshrined in Article 60 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution of 2013. Zimbabweans’ constitutional rights to equality regardless of religion and rights against unfair discrimination on the grounds of religious belief are protected in Article 56(3) of the Constitution. Further, the rights to freedom of assembly and association are preserved under Article 58 of the Constitution. Faith-based organisations (FBOs) played a significant role during the 2018 Harmonised Elections. FBOs are systemic as traditional power structures within the Zimbabwean context, and have significant moral authority and influence. The two main bodies of FBOs are the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ). Christianity is the dominant religion in Zimbabwe, with 74.8 per cent of Zimbabweans identifying as Christian. Notably 85 per cent of Zimbabweans are recorded to spend at least one hour a week in churches and other FBOs. Zimbabwe Council of Churches and Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe Religious bodies, namely the EFZ and ZCC, played a mediatory and conciliatory role between political parties before, during and after the elections. These religious bodies hosted political parties, organised prayer sessions, sponsored peace pledges and supported local observers in polling stations across the provinces in Zimbabwe. Church leaders encouraged political parties, including civil society, traditional leaders and security services, to embrace peace and tolerance and to ensure compliance with the Electoral Code of Conduct. 36