In the weeks leading to the poll, ZANU-PF started an SMS campaign targeting registered voters. There was an immediate reaction from citizens questioning how the party was able to have access to ward-specific individual information. The mobile providers denied they gave the numbers to ZANU-PF, however many people accused the electoral commission of providing the numbers or accused ZANU-PF of hacking the ZEC database. During voter registration the commission collected the mobile numbers of some 3 million people, but denied any involvement in the matter.29 Voting, counting and collation procedures were provided in the Electoral Act and the Electoral Officers Guidebook. Some safeguards intended to protect the integrity of the process were established, such as producing serially numbered ballot papers and stubs, a voter roll with colour pictures of voters for each polling station, and the use of indelible ink. The election specific return forms (V11) and ward and constituency collation forms (V23 A and B) combined with the obligatory public posting and sharing of originals returns with party agents was a positive measure. (See section on Voting, Counting and Collation for an assessment as to how these provisions were actually implemented.) Actions which could have further improved the process were not considered by the ZEC, although they were within its mandate. ZEC offered a toll free number to help voters find their station, while a polling station official was tasked to provide information to voters attending a polling station, but the absence of a second voter roll for posting outside each polling station on Election Day, which while not legally required had been proposed, meant voters were not able to fully check their registration details and thereby more easily identify their correct polling station. Regarding the ballot distribution, ZEC cited security concerns and thus decided to not share details of the operational plan. Additionally, the late decision to change the position of the voting booths in polling stations, so that the back of a voter would face party agents and polling officials seemed unnecessary and again raised concerns at ZEC’s decision-making. In the event, ZEC reversed this decision.30 The EU-funded UNDP technical assistance project advised the electoral commission in key areas, including on strengthening institutional and electoral capacity, on voter registration, voter education activities, on a comprehensive cascade training of election staff and the production of an Election Officers Manual, on training of police, on ZECs media monitoring effort and providing support on non-sensitive election materials.31 Separately, the African Union also provided assistance to ZEC in support of the training of polling staff. The International Foundation for Electoral Support (IFES) supported the introduction of the use of ICT technology in core electoral management areas, while the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) The ZEC collected voter’s mobile numbers during the BVR exercise for the purpose of voter information. The reason given was to prevent voters from taking pictures of marked ballots and of ballot paper serial numbers, as was the case in previous polls, including the postal voting. ZESN and other stakeholders expressed concern over this decision claiming that the new setup infringed the Electoral Act and would not guarantee the secrecy of the vote. “Positioning of the voting booths must safeguard secrecy of the vote’, Zimbabwe Election Support Group, Press Release 17 July; http://www.zesn.org.zw/ 31 The European Union provides development assistance amounting to EUR234 million to Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Capacity Building Project supports ZEC’s capacity building, the strengthening of voter registration, voter education programmes, and an effective engagement of ZEC with stakeholders. Further EU funding was directed to civil society organisations in support of inter-party dialogue, media support and monitoring, electoral litigation and the audit of voter roll amongst other activities. 29 30 13