All manuscripts are subject to a strict peer-review process (double-blind peer review) involving members of the editorial board and external reviewers with expertise in the subject matter. The process starts with an initial review by the editor-in-chief or associate editor-in-chief who makes an initial assessment of suitability for the ZUMJ. If the manuscript is deemed of interest, it is then assigned to a member of the editorial board who serves as the principal reviewing editor. The reviewing editor invites external reviewers (a minimum of two independent expert reviewers ) who are blinded to the manuscript author(s) to further assess the manuscript, recommend any revisions, and offer their opinion on acceptability. The Editor is responsible for the final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of articles. The duration for the first decision is one month, and for the final decision is 45 days on average.

The ZUMJ supports the responsibilities and rights of editors of peer-reviewed journals. http://www.councilscienceeditors.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3286.

The ZUMJ encourages a systematic approach to manuscript review and provides reviewers with the "COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers" (https://publicationethics.org/resources/guidelines-new/cope-ethical-guidelines-peer-reviewers).