The Sunday Mail
1. Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) (Act 25 of 2004) and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act (Chapter 2:12) (Act No 22 of 2004)
Repealed Electoral Act (Chapter 2:01)
◆ Zimbabwe Electoral Commission established to: conduct elections; direct and control voter registration; and give instructions to the Registrar-General of Voters as regards his functions which included the registration of voters, the preparation of voters rolls.
◆ Electorate directorate abolished
◆ Electoral Court established
◆ Electoral Supervisory Commission’s role changed to monitoring the polling and counting of votes and the accreditation of observers
◆ Rights of political parties and of citizens to participate in elections enumerated
◆ Office of Chief Elections Officer established
◆ Proof of residence defined
◆ Ward centres introduced
◆ Forging of name of nominator made an offence
◆ Counting of votes in presence of candidates and their agents at polling station introduced
◆ Polling-station return form introduced
◆ Submission of polling-station return to constituency introduced
l New offences created: Disorderly conduct in polling station; refusal to leave polling station; destruction/damage to voters roll; barring employees from voting; theft or damage of voter identification; destruction of political posters; preventing holding of lawful political meetings.
Code of conduct for chief election agents, election agents, monitors and observers, electoral code of conduct for political parties and candidates, and conflict management provisions.
2. Electoral Laws Amendment Act (No 17 of 2007)
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission mandated to give voter education
Electoral Supervisory Commission abolished
During election period, broadcasters: to afford all political parties and candidates free access to services as prescribed by Commission; not to discriminate in accepting advertisements; to give equitable treatment of parties and candidates broadcasters; be monitored by Commission
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission given function of appointing observers
Voter registration to be continuous
Voters rolls to be kept by Commission
Total number of ballot papers received to be recorded in the presence of candidates and their agents before commencement of polling at a polling station
Voter to vote only at a polling station within ward in which registered
After counting of votes, presiding officer to display the completed polling-station return outside the polling station
Recounting of votes by Commission upon request within 48 hours of declaration of candidate
l New offences created
Obstruction of election officials
Refusal of precautions against double voting
Intimidation
Multiparty liason committee established
3. Electoral Amendment Act (No. 3 of 2012). (Constitution amended to establish the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, this Act repealed the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act [Chapter 2:12]
Every voters roll to be kept by Commission in both printed and electronic form
Commission to, for a fee, provide within a reasonable period time copy of roll in printed or electronic form upon request by any person
Electoral centres created
Voter education provisions elaborated, commission to monitor voter education by other persons
Election observation provisions elaborated
Publication of details re ballot papers printing
Illiterate or physically handicapped voter given option of selecting person to assist him
Presiding officer to give copies of polling-station returns to every political party and candidate
Constituency elections officer to give copies of polling-station and constituency return to every political party and candidate
New offence created: Purported publication of results prior to official announcement
Postal vote restricted to person on duty outside Zimbabwe in the service of Government and spouse of such person
Special vote introduced to be cast on a day before polling day
Nomination fee to constitute funds of Commission
Measures against politically-motivated violence and intimidation elaborated
Special Investigation Committee established
4. Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Amendment of Electoral Act) Regulations, 2013 (The provisions of these regulations were subsequently reenacted by the Electoral Amendment Act, 2014 (No 6 of 2014)
Electoral Act brought into conformity with Sixth Schedule to new Constitution
Election of party-list candidates by proportional representation
Closure of voters rolls 12 days after nomination day
Designation of national and provincial political party office-bearers for certain purposes and advance filing of certain documents in connection with elections
Election of Senators to represent persons with disabilities
Allocation of party-list seats
Determination of result of election for party-list candidates
Appointment of roving political party election agents
Number of nominators for candidates to the National Assembly reduced from 10 to 5
Number of election agents permitted to be in the immediate vicinity of a polling station increased from one to two
Regulations amended to provide for: proof of identity; special and postal voting; collation of polling-station returns; nomination of candidates; accreditation of observers; association of disabled persons
