this was a missed opportunity for these elections, as the national-level MPLC did not meet as regularly as it should have, with two meetings cancelled in the month leading up to the polls, and was not used enough by either ZEC or the political parties as a real forum to resolve disputes or discuss and agree on contentious areas. EU EOM observers reported that MPLCs at lower levels were more effective and relations were better between parties and ZEC. The Peace Pledge could also have been used as a means for addressing disputes and alleged irregularities, though the Code of Conduct and associated MPLCs remain as the main legal mechanism in this regard. Recommendation 4: There needs to be more frequent MPLC meetings throughout the entire electoral process, so that it is an effective conflict resolution tool for political parties and provides an effective forum for reporting on non-compliance with the Code and for exchanges of views and information with ZEC. ZEC published an electoral calendar, the full list of polling stations, the voter roll, the list of nominated candidates, election officer’s manual, the list of constituency elections officers. Additionally, a number of notices were published in the print media with electoral information.28 Further, the ZEC website was relaunched during the campaign, and was improved making it more user-friendly, though it lacked some key information, including resolutions which complement the Electoral Act, which is in breach of constitutional transparency provisions and were crucial to stakeholder understanding of the process. Information on electoral officer cascade training, voter education, lists of CSOs cooperating in voter educations activities, and electoral data and statistics were also lacking. Recommendation 5: ZEC should offer effective information on all steps of the electoral preparations with full transparency, making all information of public interest immediately and easily accessible, including resolutions and complete and timely publication of polling station results. The voter education campaign ran for ten days prior to the election with both national radio and television broadcasting ZEC-produced materials, and with adverts published in print media and billboards erected in main urban areas. Voter education materials were translated into 13 local languages and included specific messages for diverse voter target groups such as women, first time voters, disabled persons, persons with albinism and the visually impaired. EU observers reported an intense programme with direct door-to-door voter education activities in both rural and urban areas. The relatively short voter education timetable meant that exposure of communities, notably in rural areas where it was arguably most required, for instance regarding voting procedures and the secrecy of the vote (see Election Campaign section) was limited. Recommendation 6: There needs to be a longer and more comprehensive implementation of voter education activities. leaders, distribution of food aid and agricultural supplements by the ZANU-PF candidates during campaign activities and requests for transparency in the storage and dispatch of ballot papers. 28 A press statement was published by ZEC on the voter roll. It included details regarding the biometric voter registration technology, the Automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS), and the voter roll inspection period. Also, it clarified issues on data corrections, double registration and alleged ghosts voters, The Herald, 19 July 218. 12