ZESN Report on the 31 July 2013 Harmonised Elections       The media environment needs to be reformed to ensure a greater diversity of news sources reaching all corners of the country, and a professional national public broadcaster untainted by bias. There is need for further decentralisation of the accreditation of local observers and put in place an easy and faster way of accrediting observers similar to party agents. The political parties finance act needs to be reviewed in order to increase accountability of tax payer’s money The role of traditional leaders needs to be revisited to ensure they are impartial and to ensure inclusivity in their respective jurisdiction. There is a need to review the Special Voting method used and ZESN urges ZEC to prepare in advance to avoid the logistical challenges experienced in this election. In order to enhance confidence in their processes, ZEC needs to make available to the contesting parties, candidates, accredited observers and the public, the election materials used for 2013 harmonised elections, such as the voters’ roll, polling station results, marked voters’ roll used for the special vote, and ballot papers, among other material, in order to increase citizen confidence, transparency and accountability. In conclusion, ZESN reiterates its concerns on the critical factors such as inadequate and delayed voter education, an inadequate and flawed voter registration process, failure to provide the voters’ roll to political parties and stakeholders on time, chaotic special voting, and the high numbers of assisted and turned away voters. These highlighted challenges seriously compromised the credibility and fairness of the 31 July 2013 Harmonised Elections. 9|Page