(p. 17) 10 There is a lack of legislative measures to ensure a level playing field, which impacted on the fairness of the campaign. EU observers reported an extensive use of state resources and advantage of incumbency across the country. (p. 21) POLITICAL PARTIES AND CAMPAIGN ENVIRONMENT Legislative measures, including New provisions Parliament effective and dissuasive in Electoral Act sanctions, should be introduced to mitigate abuse of state resources and misuse of the advantage of incumbency, such as use of government vehicles, property and funds and the involvement of public officials in political activities, in order to guarantee the free expression of the will of electors and help create a more level playing field. Level Playing Field, Equality ICCPR GC 25, paragraph 19. “Persons entitled to vote must be free to vote for any candidate for election... and free to support or to oppose government, without undue influence or coercion of any kind which may distort or inhibit the free expression of the elector's will. Voters should be able to form opinions independently, free of violence or threat of violence, compulsion, inducement or manipulative interference of any kind.” UN CAC article17. “Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally, the embezzlement, misappropriation or other diversion by a public official for his or her benefit or for the benefit of another person or entity, of any property, public or private funds or securities or any other thing of value entrusted to the public official by virtue of his or her position.” ACHPR Article 13(2)&(3) “Every citizen shall have the right of equal access to the public service of the country. Every individual shall have the right of access to public property and services in strict equality of all persons before the law.” SADC PF, Norms and Standards for Elections in the SADC Region Part 2(3) and 3 (6) “In the interest of creating conditions for a level playing field for all political parties and promoting the integrity of the electoral process, parties should not use public funds in the electoral process. The electoral law should prohibit the Government to aid or to abet any party gaining unfair advantage.” 
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