Zimbabwe – Ready for Elections? 25 The Electoral Act further elaborates on the conduct of observers and accredited media practitioners.113 They must exhibit the accreditation certificate and sign the register that is held by the Presiding Officer when they arrive at a polling station and must abide by the Code of Conduct. Use of mobile phones, telephones, taking pictures with mobile phones, or cameras, or kinetic images inside polling stations is prohibited. The presiding officer has the discretion to allow photographs or kinetic images to be taken as long as this does not interfere with the voting process. Observers that contravene the lawful instructions of a polling officer and provisions of the regulations can be told to leave the polling station. 2.13 Political party funding and use of state resources The new Constitution recognises multi-party democracy114 – the existence of more than one political party.115Democracy and multi-partyism is further enhanced in cases where political parties are able to access resources to champion causes. The new Constitution provides that an Act of Parliament must provide for funding of political parties.116 The Political Parties (Financing) Act provides that any political party requesting state funding must have secured at least 5% of votes in the last election. Small or start-up parties do not benefit from this provision.117 Two such parties challenged this in the Constitutional Court. Their cases were dismissed, but the court has not yet provided reasons for its decisions. No information has been provided by any of the three political parties who have benefited from such resources in relation to how this funding has been used. This has a negative impact on transparency in relation to use and possible abuse of such resources. The distinction between party resources and state resources has proved to be problematic in Zimbabwe over the years. There does not appear to be adequate regulation on this. In previous elections, allegations have been rife about the abuse of state resources by political parties – more specifically ZANU PF. In its primaries for the 2013 elections, ZANU PF used polling stations that are normally used for general elections, including schools.118 Further, police were used to assist in the primary elections at the cost of the taxpayer, rather than the political party. There is also inadequate enforcement of provisions on vote-buying and this continues to be rampant, especially when it comes to distribution of food aid ahead of the 31 July election.119 With campaigning in full swing,120 candidates have failed to distinguish their political and government offices. Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo recently ordered local councils to write off all public debts in contravention of the Urban 113 Section 9(1) of the Electoral (Accreditation of Observers) Regulations 2013 SI 89/13. 114 Section 67(4) of the Constitution. 115 IDEA Political parties in Africa: Challenges for sustained multi party democracy (2007) p 51. 116 As above. 117 Section 3(3) of the Political Parties Finance Act. 118 “ZANU PF to hold primaries in one day” The Herald (12 June 2013) p1. 119 F Nleya “Chief blasts food aid” Newsday (20 July 2013) p 3. 120 F Machivenyika “Revolutionary party ignites star rallies” The Herald (11 July 2013) p1.