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Electoral Reform Proposals
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
October 01, 2006

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Following the re-enactment of the Electoral Act, 2004 and the enactment of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act, 2004 and the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Act, 2005, which together in varying degrees, implemented some of the proposals put forward by ZESN in 2003/2004, the following represents the outstanding aspects of the ZESN proposals which it continues to recommend. They are grouped in accordance with whether the proposals are mainly constitutional, institutional (i.e. relating to the establishment of an elections body) or pertaining to general electoral procedures and practices.

A. Constitutional Amendments
The amendments to the Constitution were to pave the way for the establishment of an independent electoral management body, with many other changes aimed at creating an inclusive and transparent electoral process.

1. Establishment of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)
An electoral management body known as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has now been established under the Constitution providing for matters covering its composition, appointment of its members, its status and functions. However, not adopted amongst the ZESN recommendations on these aspects of the Commission are the following matters, which ZESN recommends:

Composition
That, apart from the chairman of the commission, 2 other members of the commission should be legally qualified.

Appointment
That:

• The Chairman be appointed by the President from 2 nominations, one being a woman, of the Law Society of Zimbabwe;
• That 4, 2 being women, must be nominations approved by a 2/3 majority of the House of Assembly from nominations called from the public;
• Two must be nominations by civil society (NANGO); and
• The Commissioners hold office for a period of 6 years.

Status
That ZEC be answerable to Parliament only, apart from being subject only to the Constitution.

Functions
That ZEC’s functions should include the following:

• The registration of voters;
• Delimitation of constituencies;
• Registration of political parties;
• Formulation and implementation of codes of conduct for political parties, the media, monitors and observers and staff of the Commission;
• Give directions to members of the Police for the maintenance of law and order in electoral matters;
• Manage access by political parties to the public media.

In line with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, ZESN continues to call for the ZEC to be endowed with full and sole responsibility for all aspects of election management in Zimbabwe. ZESN also urges government to ensure that ZEC is adequately resourced to carry out its functions.

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