Midlands Sindalizwe Dube Masendu Mkwananzi Zama Nthua Ngungumbane Ntabeni Milton Ntabeni PRESIDENT OF CHIEFS AND VICE President of Chiefs Fortune Z. Charumbira Deputy President of Mtshane Lucas Khumalo Chiefs Charumbira Mtshane Source: ZEC 16 ZESN’S SAMPLE BASED OBSERVATIONRESULTS As part of its comprehensive effort to observe the 2018 harmonised elections, ZESN trained and deployed over 7,200 observers to every ward, constituency, district and province of the country. Out of these, 750 were sample-based observers. The SBO is an advanced Election Day observation methodology which allows ZESN to independently verify of the presidential results as announced by the ZEC and confidently comment on the voting and results tabulation processes. SBOs have contributed to systematic election observation efforts around the world and in 12 countries in Africa such as Cote d’Ivoire (2016), Malawi (2009 and 2014), Zambia (2008, 2011, 2015 and 2016), Ghana (2008, 2012 and 2016), Uganda (2011), and Nigeria (2011, 2012 and 2015). In all cases the SBO accurately projected the vote tabulation outcomes including presidential results. SBO observers were deployed to a weighted nationally representative sample of polling stations throughout the country. This random sample was representative in terms of the geography of the country, the distribution of polling stations, and the distribution of registered voters across Zimbabwe. SBO observers witnessed the entire voting and counting process at sampled polling stations and recorded the official results as announced by the polling officials. By 12 noon, 31 July, ZESN had received reports from all 750 sampled polling stations and had verified and analysed their data. Therefore, this report is based on a 100% response rate. Table 16.1: ZESN SBO Estimates and ZEC Official Results for the 2018 Presidential Election 92 | P a g e