ZIMBABWE: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS - 2005 2000 2002 19 2005 Number of Registered voters 5,048,815 5,607,812 5,789,912 Votes cast for ZANU PF and MDC only 2,376,856 2,979,460 2,611,159 2,490,2963 2,998,7584 2,696,670 49.3 55.8 46.6 Total number of votes cast Turnout in per cent We have not been able to find a breakdown of the final registration figure per constituency, but it seemed like the ZEC was using such a breakdown when they published their turnout in per cent. Recommendations In order to meet universal criteria for elections, which Zimbabwe has subscribed to and which are generally accepted, the following improvements should be made: - - A constitutional change to ensure that all the members of the Parliament are directly elected, and that the President’s legislative powers are removed. Should a reform reintroduce an upper house, it is vital that the decisive legislative powers rest with directly elected chamber(s). The suppressive parts of legislation on associations, expressions, press and electronic media must be removed. The passed, but not signed, act on NGOs needs to be stopped. Carrying out of voter education should be open to all organisations without censorship. The rules for and practise of public media need to change so as to provide a balanced coverage of the incumbents and the opposition. Clear rules for use of public resources by the incumbents should be introduced. Voters registers need to be reviewed in a transparent process in order to remove invalid entries and to ensure that everybody who is registered has been listed in the correct constituency. The delimitation exercise should be done after consultation with all parties. The ZEC should be equipped with sufficient staff and resources to enable them to take full charge of the process. All doubts about which body is in charge of the elections should be removed, and the appointment of the chairperson of the ZEC should be made on the basis of a broad nomination process. 3 Valid votes only. 4 Valid votes only.