provincial special police liaison officer and two representatives from each political party or independent candidate contesting the election.47 The Special Investigation Committee only has the power, where incidents of violence have taken place, to warn candidates and party supporters that they may be prosecuted or barred from campaigning in the elections. Where such warning is ignored, the Special Investigation Committee may compile a report and submit it to special provincial prosecutors.48 Establishing special investigation committees comprising of police officers from a highly partisan police force heightens rather than alleviates concerns that these committees can prevent political violence and intimidation during elections. Instead of strengthening the human rights commission’s involvement in elections, close participation by pro-ZANU-PF police officers seems likely to undermine it. The Electoral Amendment Act in article 160(g) directs all public broadcasters to grant equal access to the media for all political parties and independent candidates contesting elections. Finally, in the fourth schedule, the Electoral Amendment Act contains an electoral code of conduct for political parties and candidates that puts forward a prohibition on political violence and intimidation but does not provide a mechanism for enforcement beyond the Special Investigation Committees. Many of these electoral reforms were instituted just before the 2008 “harmonized” elections (the holding of presidential, parliamentary, and local government elections at the same time) and would have significantly improved the human rights and electoral conditions had they been faithfully implemented. The widespread human rights abuses and an unequal playing field in previous elections was not primarily due to a lack of relevant laws. Rather, it was a result of ZANU-PF’s use of an informal network of highly partisan and extremely politicized leaders of state institutions who undermined the legal framework for the ruling party’s benefit.49 ZANU-PF and its allies in key state institutions have over the years undermined provisions relating to free and fair elections, running 47 Electoral Amendment Act, art. 133(h). 48 Ibid., art. 133(i). 49 The Police Act, for instance, prohibits members of the police from partisan conduct, including taking part in party politics. RACE AGAINST TIME 18