ZEC has the legal responsibility to design the ballot papers. However, its decision to arrange the presidential ballot in two columns, and notably in a way which placed the incumbent president at the top of the second column, was contentious. The decision was taken without any consultation with parties or a reasonable explanation and led to accusations that ZEC’s position on the matter was biased, as it appeared to give the incumbent president an undue advantage. ZEC decided that the 23 presidential candidates on the ballot, who according to law must be listed in alphabetical order, would be split into two columns, but not split into 12 and 11 names as may seem logical, but split 14/9. As such, the incumbent president, Emmerson D. Mnangagwa (previously 15th on the list of 23 in alphabetical order) was placed at the top of the 2nd column. Furthermore, the event ZEC organised for parties and observers to witness the printing did not afford effective transparency as it was a one-off event and did not provide the possibility of full scrutiny of what was being printed. 24 Also, procedures for the securing of ballots during storage and distribution appeared lax and raised concerns. Nevertheless, ZEC complied with the Election Act on the publication of details regarding the printing of ballots papers. On 28 July ZEC published an Election Notice which included a national list of polling stations, number of registered voters and the total of printed ballot papers for each polling station.25 Regarding the staffing of ZEC, the lack of neutrality of its officials in past elections was assessed as a key vulnerability for the polls. ZEC requests the secondment of civil servants, which are selected, screened and trained by the Commission, and remain under its direction and control during the period of elections.26 The formation of MPLCs as a conflict management tool was welcomed.27 Such bodies could have, if used effectively, enhanced accountability and transparency in the electoral process. However, 24 Based on a report from EU observers, on 29 June stakeholders were invited by ZEC to witness the printing of ballot papers at the Harare’s Fidelity Printers. This was supposed to be an opportunity to clarify ballot security features, the ballot design as well as clarifying candidate and party slots. With the exception of the ZANU-PF, the event was attended by approximately 50 guests, including two presidential candidates, representatives of the MDC Alliance, and a number of smaller parties. The ZEC had promised full visual access to the printing process, yet this was not provided. Opposition candidates and parties claimed that the printing process had started beforehand and that ZEC failed to provide information on the number of printed ballots. 25 In terms with the Electoral Act Section 52A (2) the ZEC notified that the Fidelity Printers and Refiners (Pvt) Ltd, was given the mandate to print ballot papers for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, and that Printflow (Pvt) Ltd, printed ballots for the Local Authority election. Both companies are located in Harare. A total of 6,150,950 ballots for each presidential and national assembly were printed for 5,695,706 registered voters; a total of 6,036,250 local authority ballot papers were printed for 5,590,044 registered voters. The ZEC calculated a minimum average of 3% contingency ballots for each polling station. The number of local authority ballots is less than for the other polls because in 46 wards candidates were returned unopposed and no elections were held. Also, a candidate for ward 13 in Chimanimani died and the ward election will be held on another date, ZEC Election Notice 28 July on Printing and Distribution of ballot papers. In 2013 ZEC used the same firms for ballot paper printing, and printed 35% more ballots than the total voting population of 6,4 million. 26 The law establishes that those seconded to the ZEC through the Public Service Commission, the Health Services Board, and through any statutory body or council, consists of persons employed by the State other than members of the security services and any other security service that may be established. 27 The multiparty liaison committees were constituted at national, provincial, constituency and local authority level. They are mandated to attempt to resolve electoral disputes arising from the non-compliance with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, Electoral Act, Section 160 (A/D); Concerns raised by opposition parties at MPLC’s included references to acts of intimidation perpetrated against candidates or voters, the alleged use of former security personnel as civil servants for election work, instances of electoral violence, biased conduct of traditional 11