The functions of the Commission are provided for in the Constitution and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act.

The Constitution sets out the functions of the Commission in section 100C. These are:

• to prepare for, conduct and supervise elections and referendums and ensure they are conducted efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently & in accordance with the law;
• to supervise registration of voters by the Registrar-General of Voters;
• to compile voters’ rolls and registers & ensure proper custody and maintenance of these;
• to design, print and distribute ballot papers;
• to approve the form of ballot boxes and procure these;
• to establish and operate polling centres;  and
• to determine constituency boundaries;
• to conduct voter education;  and
• to accredit observers of elections and referendums in accordance with an Act of Parliament;
• to give instructions to State and local government employees to ensure free and fair conduct of elections.

Section 4 of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act allocates certain additional functions to the Commission. These are:

• to undertake & promoting research into electoral matters;
• to develop in Government at all levels expertise & use of technology for electoral processes;
• to promote co-operation between Government, political parties & civil society in regard to elections;
• to keep public informed about—

•    times and places where persons can register as voters & progress of voter registration exercise; and
•    delimitation of wards & constituencies;
•    location & boundaries of polling stations & when they are open;
•    voters’ rolls & times & places at which they are open for inspection;
•    political parties & candidates contesting every election;
•    voting; and
•    generally, all matters relating to ZEC’s work & the electoral process;

• to make recommendations to Parliament on appropriate ways to provide public financing for political parties.

Section 8(1)(a)  of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act further provides that Commissioners and the Commission’s employees and agents must exercise their functions in a manner that promotes conditions conducive to free, fair and democratic elections.

Part IVA of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act imposes the function of monitoring the print and electronic media during the election period to ensure that the media provides fair and accurate coverage of political campaigning.