ZESN Report on the 31 July 2013 Harmonised Elections to form, join and to participate in the activities of a political party or organization of their choice8, and otherwise to participate individually or collectively in peaceful political activity.9 Other than the declaration of rights, the political rights that Zimbabwean citizens are entitled to are further reinforced in the Constitution.10 In terms of section 155 of the new Constitution, certain principles of electoral systems should be met in letter and spirit whenever there is a national election or referendum. These principles include the regular holding of elections. Such elections should be held in a peaceful, free and fair manner. The elections must be conducted by secret ballot. The elections must be free from violence and any other electoral malpractices. In terms of this section, the state is obliged to take all appropriate measures, including legislative measures, to ensure that effect is given to these principles. Such measures include ensuring that all eligible citizens wishing to exercise the right to vote are registered to do so. The state should ensure that every citizen who is eligible to vote in an election or referendum has an opportunity to cast a vote, and must facilitate voting by persons with disabilities or special needs. The state should also ensure that all political parties and candidates contesting an election, or participating in a referendum have reasonable access to all material and information necessary for them to participate effectively. It is also the responsibility of the state to provide all political parties and candidates contesting an election, or participating in a referendum, with fair and equal access to electronic and print media, both public and private. The new Constitution places an obligation on the ZEC to ensure that measures are put in place to eliminate electoral violence and other electoral malpractices and to ensure the safekeeping of electoral 11 materials. All these new provisions brought by the new Constitution are meant to ensure that the electoral processes in Zimbabwe conform to regional and international normative standards on democracy, good governance and elections. The new Constitution introduces new methods of voting representative members into Parliament. The new framework seeks to achieve inclusivity and the accommodation of diverse classes of people whist maintaining the balance of accountability through elected representatives. To this end the new Constitution creates a system of mixed-member system of representation in Parliament. The new Constitution retains the bicameral legislature consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate. The seats to the National Assembly are filled through a combination of the first-past-the-post system and a 8 Section 67(2)(a) of the new Constitution. Section 67 (2)(c) of the new Constitution. 10 See Section 155 and Section 156 of the Constitution, generally. 11 Section 156(c) of the new Constitution. 9 18 | P a g e