by members of another party. Provisions on fair media coverage of elections are only effective if ZEC
monitors properly the media and takes action to put stop to breaches.
Free Political Environment-Freedom to Campaign
The political environment before, during and after voting must allow political parties to campaign freely and
voters to freely express their electoral choices without intimidation and reprisals. There is need to amend
POSA to ensure that unreasonable restrictions on political campaigning are removed. The police must
apply law properly and impartially. Previous elections such as the 2008 re-run of the Presidential elections
witnessed considerable levels of violence and intimidation. When entire party structures are focused on a
single by-election, the risk of even more violence and intimidation is likely to be high. ZEC should therefore
carefully monitor the situation on the ground before and after elections and where instances of violence and
intimidation are reported, should do all in its power to put a stop to such practices.
Party Election Agents
During the 2008 elections, violence was directed against agents particularly agents of candidates
representing the MDC. To avoid a replay of these political malpractices, ZESN recommends that the names
and addresses of chief election agents and ordinary party agents should no longer be published and that
party election agents must not be prevented from witnessing polling process.
New Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
Since ZEC is a critical body that is constitutionally mandated to ensure that elections are free, fair,
transparent, and in accordance with the law, urgent priority should be given to the establishment of a new
Commission.
ZEC Commissioners
With new Commissioners to be appointed in due course under constitutional amendment 19, it is
imperative that the public have confidence that these new Commissioners will perform their duties
conscientiously, independently and without political bias. While Constitutional Amendment number 19 has
changed somewhat the composition and method for appointing Electoral Commissioners, ZESN feels that
the manner in which the chairperson is appointed is not satisfactory. ZESN recommends further changes to
method of appointment of Commissions such as removing discretion of President to select Commissioners
after Parliamentary Committee has chosen most suitable candidates. There is also need to comply with
constitutional provisions that clearly stipulate that Commissioners cannot be members of political parties,
that they must relinquish political membership without delay when appointed, and, that they must be non
partisan.
ZEC Staff
Before by-elections are held, the incoming Electoral Commission should address the issue of their senior
management staff, especially that of the Chief Elections Officer who is the most important employee of the
Electoral Commission. ZEC staff must be seen to be scrupulously impartial and apolitical in the
performance of their duties. There is widespread perception that there has been politicization and
militarization of key staff position and that the senior managers are politically biased. The new Commission
must move in to replace discredited managerial staff members with new staff that will carry out their duties
independently and without political bias. The Commission can obtain staff for its activities during an election
from the public service, such as teachers, the health service and the statutory bodies and councils who
should operate in various capacities such as presiding officers at polling stations. Only limited numbers of