Back to Index

Minimum conditions for free & fair elections in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
October 26, 2001

1. Independent electoral commission
Establishment of an independent and impartial electoral commission that conducts and manages elections

2. Voter education
Impartial, intensive, and broad voter education which imparts information about the voting process, procedures and regulations.

3. Voter information
Sufficient publicity and dissemination of information about voters’ registration, constituency boundaries, nomination court(s), location of polling stations, dates and procedures of voting.

4. Voter registration
Voter registration taking place for a long period with proof of registration in the form of registration slips being given to all.

5. Voters roll
i) An accurate and updated voters’ roll which must be available on request to all stakeholders and interested parties at least 3 months before an election.
ii) Copies of the voters’ roll to be given to all party agents and monitors during polling.

6. Code of conduct
i) All stakeholders( monitors, observers, media, candidates and political parties) to be involved in the development and signing of codes of conduct for electoral actors.
ii) Strict application of sanctions and penalties to those breaching the code of conduct.

7. Media
i) All stakeholders to have equal access to all public media.
ii) Fair and transparent guidelines regarding media coverage and advertising during the campaigning period.

8. Postal voting
i) A transparent and well publicised postal voting system which is accessible to all eligible Zimbabwean voters living outside Zimbabwe.
ii) If voting is done by constituency then internal postal voting system should be used to cater for those who cannot be in their constituencies on voting day. This will also include officials involved in conducting the poll such as police officers, polling officers, monitors, and drivers.

9. Political tolerance
Tolerance of divergent political views and the rejection of all forms of election related violence and intimidation.

10. Election monitors and observers
Timeous accreditation of domestic monitors and open access to international observers for pre-polling, polling days and post election period.

11. Law enforcement
Impartial treatment of candidates and their supporters by law-enforcement agencies including the police, army, state security agencies and the courts of law.

12. Election petitions
Impartial treatment of any election complaints, impartial reports on election results and acceptance of the election results by all involved.

13. Electoral authorities
Professional and competent electoral authorities whose work does not compromise the voters’ right to vote. This includes the provision of all voting materials and adequate human resources and ensuring that all procedures of voting and counting are adhered to.

14. Secrecy of the ballot
All voters to have the opportunity to cast their votes in complete and absolute secrecy.

15. Exemptions
Provisions should be made for those who do not appear in the voters ‘ roll or who do not have sufficient identification to vote by oath and these votes to be considered as tendered votes.

Remember: Your Vote is Your Right - USE IT

Register now at your nearest district office or contact your district office or ZESN for the date when the mobile registration teams will be in your area. View the online schedule.

Zimbabwe Election Support Network – P.O Box BE 630 Belvedere, Harare.
Telefax +263-(0)4-741552/741358/778324
E-mail zesn@africaonline.co.zw
Web site www.zesn.org.zw

View the ZESN fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP