1 zimbabwe election support network [zesn] - Nehanda Radio

continued up to the 22 nd June with the ZEC Committee on Media Monitoring stating that it
would continue to monitor election coverage by the media according to Section 16G of the ZEC
Act which obliges ZEC to carry out such monitoring to ensure that parties, candidates, and
broadcasters, print publishers and journalists observe the fair coverage provisions of the ZEC
Act and regulations. However, it was disturbing to note that although media coverage and
reporting was heavily biased in favor of the incumbent, ZEC neither publicly condemned the act
or take serious measures to curb the act.
Election Administration
Sound election administration is a critical in building political party confidence in the conduct of
elections. ZEC set up 9232 polling stations and engaged more than 64000 polling officers to
monitor the June 27 presidential run-off and three house of assembly by-election. However,
ZEC, the body that runs elections in Zimbabwe only began voter education on radio at the end
of the week ending 20 June. ZEC also depends on the personnel of other government
departments to carry out its electoral processes on polling day reportedly recruited 64 000 staff.
In previous elections it had relied on civil servants especially teachers to carry out these
functions. Alleged use of youth militias and war veterans by ZEC as polling officers and
presiding officers in the 27 June elections could have seriously compromised the secrecy of the
ballot box as their neutrality was highly questionable.
Also at issue is the independence and neutrality of ZEC and its ability to work without being
influenced by political parties. It is vital for an election commission to be impartial and to instill
the confidence of the electorate, political parties and civic society. Calls for the reconstitution of
ZEC were commonly heard from most stakeholders and observers.
ZEC has not been more forthcoming as to the progress that has been made with regard to the
preparations of the run-off. In addition, the institution did not give the public information on the
number of ballot papers they had printed and distribution pattern.
Media Coverage of Political Parties
Media plays a pivotal role in the democratization of elections informing the public of what
politicians are offering in terms of their plans, programs and policies. However in its analysis of
political party media coverage, the Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe [MMPZ] established
that in Zimbabwe, the ethics of good journalism have been violated as reporting on election
issues was done in a partisan way that exposes the orientations of the reporters. The public
has not been allowed to form their own political opinions based solely on the political
candidate’s submissions. The print media in Zimbabwe have not been able to establish and
maintain contact with rural communities yet these are the areas that need more explanation on
political programs. The role of the media is to expose violations, investigate allegations of
electoral fraud, to be balanced and neutral. While ZEC has a media monitoring department that
is mandated to ensure that all parties to an election are able to access state owned media
without discrimination and ensuring equality of opportunity, this proved to be moribund as only
ZANU PF campaign messages have been advertised.
Voice Distribution on ZBC
As further revealed by MMPZ, voice distribution on state owned media in the week before the
election from 22 nd of June to the 27 th of June 2008 was as follows: ZANU PF [101%],
Government [19%], ZEC [6%], War Veterans [9%], and, ZRP [26%]. Since ZBC is the sole
source of news to most Zimbabweans and denying, the MDC T access to public media denies
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