Reporting Elections, Safety and Security of Journalists displayed to candidates and agents and posted outside polling stations before being transmitted to constituency centre. Recounting votes ZEC has power to order recount of votes, either on request by party or candidate or on its own initiative. Under the new legislation, ballot papers will be destroyed 14 days after election unless an election petition is lodged. Media conduct during elections is also governed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Media Coverage of Elections) Regulations (Statutory Instrument 33 of 2008). The regulations require equitable coverage of political parties by both print publishers and broadcasters. In the case of broadcasters, the regulations set conditions on the allocation of airtime for defined programmes as well as the conduct of presenters and journalists. The instrument criminalises the use of hate speech and use of inflammatory statement. The spirit of the regulations is to create a peaceful electoral environment. Encouragement to violence, racial, ethnic and religious hatred is forbidden. ZEC is mandated to monitor the media to ensure observance of this provision. Zimbabwe Electoral Commission ZEC is the election management body entrusted with the conduct of elections and to direct and control the registration of voters. It is also responsible for providing voter education. 71