Latest News Editor's Choice


News / National

ZESN endorses presidential election results

by Mafu Sithabile
03 Aug 2018 at 07:53hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) has released a report endorsing the Presidential Election results released by the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) which saw Zanu-PF's Emmerson Mnangagwa emerging victorious.

In the report titled " Presidential Results Projection from Sample-Based Observation", ZESN says the results released by ZEC are consistent with the Sample-Based Observation (SBO) projections. The Sample-Based Observation (SBO) Project is an initiative of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN).

According to ZESN, the SBO percentage estimates for turnout, vote for each candidate, and rejected ballots are based on the official results as announced by polling officials at the 750 sampled polling stations. At these polling stations there were 383,272 registered voters and 324,948 votes were cast. The SBO data is based on these actual votes. The SBO is not an exit poll. No voters were asked whom they voted for. Since the SBO is based on a sample of polling stations it produces estimated ranges within which the results announced by the ZEC should fall. The ranges are based on the SBO estimates plus or minus a margin of error. ZESN urged ZEC to release on its website polling station level results for all elections, including the presidential election, to enhance transparency and accountability. Part of the report reads:

ZEC's announced official results are consistent with the SBO projections. The percent vote for each candidate as officially announced by the ZEC fall within the SBO estimated ranges. Because the SBO estimated range for the leading candidate falls above and below 50%, the SBO cannot definitively confirm whether or not there should have been a runoff.

ZESN calls upon the ZEC to urgently release on its website polling station level results for all elections, including the presidential election, to enhance transparency and accountability. This is even more important given concerns raise by some stakeholders about the process. We encourage all Zimbabweans to be peaceful and if there are any disputes related to this electoral process, the aggrieved parties should seek peaceful redress and exercise restraint. ZESN also calls upon security forces to avoid being heavy handed in their efforts to restore order

ZESN had projected a 50.7% win for Mnangagwa who eventually won with a 50.8%. Below are the SBO projections:



ZESN is a coalition of 36 Non-Governmental Organisations formed in 2000 to coordinate activities pertaining to elections. You can download ZESN's full report here

Source - Byo24News
More on: #ZESN, #ZEC, #SBO, #Mnangagwa