18 Electoral system and processes for registration.74Women were also affected by unilateral alteration of a voters’ detail, such as surnames. In one such example during the intensive voter registration exercise, Primrose Matambanadzo (a married woman who retained her maiden name on her identity documents) discovered that her maiden name had been unilaterally altered to the surname of her husband on the voters’ roll without consultation or her approval. This was not surprising due to the fact that the multi-tasking R-G may have forgotten to remove one of his hats. This also exhibits the patriarchal nature of the R-G himself, refusing to recognise that everyone, including women, have a right to a name. It was only after the threat of litigation, once again, that ZEC acted to restore Matambanadzo to the voters’ roll using her maiden name. However they have thus far refused to issue a public clarification on how similarly affected married women will be dealt with at polling stations where their identity documents bear a different surname from that appearing on the roll, with the potential of disenfranchisement on voting day. The registration process was also viewed by women’s organisations as not being responsive to the needs of women because of their gendered roles.75 Particularly of concern was the fact that pregnant women, the elderly and women living with disabilities either found the polling stations inaccessible or were not afforded the necessary treatment because of their status at the registration centres.76 2.9 Constituency boundaries and the delimitation process In terms of the new Constitution, electoral boundaries that were used in the 2008 harmonised elections will apply to the 31 July 2013 election.77 These boundaries as delimited by ZEC and as constituted then, were disputed.78 Points of contention included but were not limited to the fact that ZEC, as then constituted, was appointed by a candidate to the elections who also approved the proposed boundaries. This compromised the independence and impartiality of delimitation of boundaries by the then-ZEC, which position has not been corrected. The delimitation of boundaries for the 2008 elections was done in a clandestine manner and in a very short time even though considerable changes had to be made with the increase of constituencies from 120 to 210. As a result the then President, currently the incumbent who was also a candidate in the elections, had an undue advantage over his contemporaries.79 There has therefore been no promotion of fairness as articulated in the SADC Principles and AU Guidelines.80 There have also been several allegations of gerrymandering in 2013, with large 74 75 76 77 78 Z Murwira “Polygamous families drag voter registration” The Herald (19 June 2013) p 3. “Women petition ZEC, Mudede” Newsday (8 July 2013) p 5. As above. Part 3 section 5 of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 20) See Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Zimbabwe geared up for another election? Then and now 2008 elections in retrospect (2010). 79 The first report was presented to the President by 14 January 2008 see The Herald “Delimitation report ready”(14 January 2008) p 1. 80 Principle 7.3 of the SADC Principles.