ZESN - Promoting Democratic Elections in Zimbabwe alphabetical order. The design was split into two columns, of 14 and nine candidates each, and ZEC indicated that this was done on the advice of the printers. The design of the ballot paper raised concerns as some stakeholders thought the layout gave the incumbent an unfair advantage. In designing the Presidential ballot paper, ZEC should have adhered to the 2005 regulations which prescribe the Form V.10 as the design for the ballot paper. The ZEC did not consult political parties over the design of the presidential ballots, raising issues of credibility, trust, and partiality. Concern was also raised as to procedures for security of ballot papers, storage, and distribution. Domestic and citizen observers included ZESN, the National Association of Non-governmental Or g an i s at i o n s ( N A N G O) , t h e C at h o l i c Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), and the Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe (UDACIZA), among others. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) deployed 23 teams from 23 July to 6 August 2018 to observe the 2018 elections20. 5.7 Observers' Accreditation Applications for accreditation are submitted to ZEC and are approved by the OAC. On the OAC sits the Chairperson of the Commission; Deputy Chairperson; three Commissioners; nominees from the President's Office and Cabinet; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry responsible for immigration; and Ministry of Women's Affairs. The OAC has been criticized for lacking independence as it is dominated by representatives from the Executive. 5.6 Observers in the 2018 Harmonized Elections The Electoral Act, Sections 40G to 40K provide for the accreditation of observers. The first Schedule to the Electoral Act provides for a Code of Conduct for Political Parties, Candidates and Observers. Whilst domestic observers apply for accreditation to ZEC, regional and international observers are invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. President Mnangagwa extended invitations to 46 countries, 15 organizations, and 2 eminent persons19. European Union and Commonwealth observers were invited for the first time since 2002. Other observer missions included the AU Election Observer Mission, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), SADC Election Observer Mission, SADC PF, Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN –SA), Zimbabwe International Election Observer Mission (ZIEOM)a joint (National Democratic Institute/ International Republican Institute (NDI/IRI) observer mission, the Carter Centre Technical Team, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Pan African Parliament (PAP), observers from liberation movements namely the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Tanzania), the African National Congress (ANC), the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), Angola and observers from India, China, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, Ecuador, and other countries. 19 20 21 For purposes of the 2018 elections, the OAC was established on the 10 June 2018, the accreditation of observers ran for 50 days, from 10 June to the 30July 2018. Applications for accreditation closed four days before the Election Day in accordance 21 with the Electoral Law . Accreditation Centres were published on 13June 2018 and were decentralized to 10 provincial centres. The ZEC reduced accreditation fees for accredited BVR observers from US $10 to US$2. This was after advocacy interventions from ZESN and other CSOs to reduce the accreditation fees for observers. The accreditation fees for different types of observers were pegged as follows:US$10 for local observers; US$20 for observers from the continent of Africa; US$50 for observers from foreign embassies in Zimbabwe; US$100 for observers from any country outside Africa; US$50 for Zimbabwean media practitioners accredited with the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) and https://news.pindula.co.zw/2018/04/09/list-of-election-observers-to-be-invited-by-govt-for-2018-elections/ http://kubatana.net/2018/07/25/zimbabwe-human-rights-commission-zhrc-deploys-election-monitors-countrywide/ Section 40 (1) of the Electoral Act states that; An application for accreditation as an observer must be made no later than the fourth day before the first day of polling fixed in a proclamation made under section 38(1)(a), (b) or (c) for the election of the President, constituency members of the National Assembly or councillors. 22 REPORT ON THE 30 JULY 2018 HARMONISED ELECTIONS ZESN