Section 157: Electoral Law

(1) An Act of Parliament must provide for the conduct of elections and referendums to which this Constitution applies, and in particular for the following matters—

    (a) the periodic delimitation of constituencies and wards in accordance with section 161;

    (b) the registration of voters, and requirements for registration on particular voters’ rolls;

    (c) a code of conduct for political parties, candidates and other persons participating in

elections or referendums;

    (d) a system of proportional representation for the election of persons to the seats in the

Senate referred to in section 120(1)    (a) and the seats reserved for women in the

National Assembly referred to in section 124(1)(b), and the procedure for filling

vacancies in those seats, which vacancies must be filled by persons—

          (i) belonging to the same political parties as those who previously held the seats;

and

          (ii) of the same gender as the persons who previously held the seats;

    (e) the election of representatives of persons with disabilities under section 120(1)(d);

    (f) the conduct of elections to provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities;

    (g) challenges to election results.

(2) The system of proportional representation provided for in terms of subsection (1)    (d) must ensure equal representation of women among the Senators referred to in section 120(1)(a).

(3) The Electoral Law must provide for the nomination of candidates in any election to take place at least fourteen days after the publication of the proclamation calling for that election. Polling must take place at least thirty days after the nomination of candidates.

(4) No amendments may be made to the Electoral Law, or to any subsidiary legislation made under that law, unless the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has been consulted and any recommendations made by the Commission have been duly considered.

(5) After an election has been called, no change to the Electoral Law or to any other law relating to elections has effect for the purpose of that election.

PART 2

T IMING OF E LECTIONS