day limit should only be seen as the maximum possible date within which to announce the results otherwise the primary requirement is that results must be declared forthwith upon completion of counting. 10.2 In order to prevent pre-emption of results as envisaged in the Bill, ZESN also urges the Commission to ensure that results are declared forthwith after counting and without any delays to prevent any anxieties or concerns. In the past pre-emption of the official declaration has occurred as a direct response to failures to declare results promptly. This can be avoided by the Commission ensuring prompt declaration of results. 11. Votes Re-count Period 11.1 ZESN recommends that as the requirement that the vote re-count be done within 5 days of the last polling day clashes with the above requirement for the announcement of results, it is better to require that the period within which the recount must be done be counted from the day that it is ordered by the Commission and that this be limited to not more than two days, unless the Commission extends it upon application to the Electoral Court. 12. Announcement of Re-Count Results 12.1 Still on the re-count, ZESN urges that instead of requiring that the results of the re-count can be announced within a 5 day period “after the completion of the recount” it should declared forthwith upon completion and in any event, not more than 24 hours after the completion of the recount. There is legitimate justification for potentially waiting for a further 5 days from completing the recount before the result is declared. It only breeds anxiety, uncertainty and fears of rigging all of which the statute is ostensibly designed to minimise. 13. Funding for Voter Education 13.1 ZESN recommends a reconsideration and clarification of rules relating to the handling of foreign funding to support voter education. It is not entirely clear from the provision whether the 51