divergent
views
dissenting opinions.
and state media during elections.
Section 7.1 (2) (d) requires
the state to ensure that all
political parties have access
to electronic and print
media, both public and
private.
Ruling
party
supporters
intimidate and execute violence
upon members of the opposition
while the police and the attorney
general fail to arrest and
prosecute such perpetrators of
violence and intimidation.
Draft constitution provides for a
strong bill of rights, a relatively
independent
prosecuting
authority, mechanisms of a
professional police service, and
mechanisms for an independent
judiciary.
Strong provision of political
rights,
an
independent
prosecuting
authority
and
judiciary provide an opportunity
for victims of political violence
and intimidation to seek and
actually get protection.
Complicated process of voter
registration
Section 7.1 (2) (a) obliges
the state to take all
appropriate measures
including
legislative
ones, to ensure that all
eligible citizens are
registered as voters.
Citizens
can
legally
demand that the state
take certain measures to
ensure that unnecessary
restrictions be removed
from the process of
voter registration.
Voter registration is managed by ZEC is given the mandate to Management of the voter’s roll
the Registrar General’s Office, of register voters
by ZEC is likely to bring
which the registrar general is a
objectivity and impartiality to
presidential appointee, thereby
the process. It is also likely to
casting
doubt
on
his
bring some level of efficiency
since the staff of ZEC is expected
independence and impartiality.
to possess technical expertise in
election management.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ZEC is responsible for accrediting
responsible
for
accrediting observers
election observers and there has
been a tendency of inviting
observers only from those
This is likely to bring objectivity
and impartiality to the selection
of election observers and their
work.
11