ZIMBABWE ELECTION SUPPORT NETWORK ANNUAL REPORT 2010 Materials production and dissemination During the period under review ZESN produced and distributed 5 000 wall calendars for 2010, distribution was done through the ZESN membership, workshops and public meetings. 30 000 flyers and posters were also produced and distributed widely. ZESN also distributed other information, education and communication materials that were produced by Legal Resources Foundation, Crisis Coalition and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights on the constitution making process. Supplements and Media Adverts and cartoons ZESN produced a supplement on Zimbabwe's preparedness for elections which was flighted in various private print media. Adverts were also inserted in national and provincial papers and other sector specific newspapers such the Worker which targets and ZCTU affiliate members and the weekly Agenda which is mainly distributed in Matebeleland region. A cartoonist was commissioned and he produced cartoon strips that were inserted in the print media. Community workshops and pre-workshop field visits During the period under review, ZESN successfully conducted 106 community based workshops around the country, reaching out to 5034 participants (2139 females and 2895 males). Participants’ Participants were drawn from a cross section of community leadership and specialized groups such as the youth, women and the disabled. Others included the representatives of political parties, academics, churches and war veterans. Content The discussion topics included citizen participation to help participants understand their role as citizens, background to the constitution reform process, different types of electoral systems, systems of governance and models of election management bodies. The concept of conflict transformation and its causes and solutions were discussed. Citizen Participation In all workshops, the participatory approach was used by the facilitators and this gave each individual an opportunity to contribute during the workshops. Participants were able to identify different ways through which citizen participation is manifested in their community and also the many challenges they face regarding developmental, social and political issues. Harare and Mashonaland Regions workshop attendance by gender Participants during a workshop conducted by ZESN in Mashonaland East Province Training of community educators ZESN conducted three provincial refresher workshops for community educators. A total of one hundred and six (106) trainers drawn from selected rural constituencies were trained. Seventy one (71) were male whilst thirty five (35) were women. The purpose of the training was to improve their understanding of electoral systems, systems of governance, electoral management bodies as well as to enhance their facilitation and community mobilization skills and to enhance their appreciation of the need for electoral reforms, co-existence, peace and collective participation. The workshops were also used as a platform to share with the community educators, skills on safety procedures. 10 Females 44% Males 56% Publicity Campaigns ZESN exhibited at the NGO-Expo at Harare Gardens in August and at the IDEAS festival held in Bulawayo. During the expositions ZESN publications were distributed including flyers, caps and t-shirts were also distributed. PROMOTING DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN ZIMBABWE