ZESN - Promoting Democratic Elections in Zimbabwe also convincingly won the presidential election thus setting the stage for a disputed electoral outcome. Tabulation and Announcement of Results: For the 2018 harmonised elections, presidential results were transmitted directly from district command centres to the National Results Centre. In previous elections, results were transmitted through the ward, constituency, district, and provincial command centres before being sent to the National Results Centre. This results transmission system was developed to enable expeditious announcement of results within the five-day period stipulated by the law. The results of the 210 constituencies showed that ZANU-PF had won 144 seats representing 68.57% of total seats; the MDC Alliance secured 64 seats representing 30.47% while the National Patriotic Front and independent candidate Temba Mliswa got a single seat each. Table 11 shows the results for the National Assembly elections as announced by ZEC. As parliamentary election results were being announced, the MDC Alliance expressed concern over the delays by ZEC in announcing the presidential election results and alleged that they had unearthed manipulation and rigging56. The party held a press conference on 31 July to voice its concerns over delays to announce the presidential election results and claimed that they had won the presidential election. The claims of victory by the MDC Alliance were countered by ZANU-PF which, through the official Twitter handle of President Mnangagwa, indicated that they had Table 11: National Assembly Results % of Number of Seats seats won in (2018) 2018 144 68.57% Party ZANU-PF MDC Alliance 64 30.47% Number Comparison of seats with 2013 won in (change in 2013 seats) 160 -16 49 +15 Independent 1 0.48% 1 - National Patriotic Front 1 0.48% N/A +1 210 100% 210 Total Source: ZEC Compared to the 2013 election, ZANU-PF lost sixteen seats while the MDC Alliance gained fifteen. Table 12 below compares the number of seats held by ZANU-PF and MDC in 2013 and 2018. Table 12: National Assembly Seats by Province: 2013-2018 Comparison Province Harare Bulawayo Mash West Mash East Mash Central Midlands Manicaland Masvingo Matebeleland North Matebeleland South Total 2013 ZANU PF MDC T MDC N Independent ZANU PF 6 0 21 22 18 25 22 26 7 13 160 23 12 1 0 0 3 4 0 6 0 49 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 17 21 18 22 19 25 8 12 144 2018 MDC National Independent Alliance Patriotic Front 28 0 0 11 0 0 4 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 7 0 0 1 0 0 5 0 0 1 0 0 64 1 1 Source: ZEC The MDC Alliance, however, could probably have performed much better in the parliamentary elections given that there are 11 constituencies in which the Alliance fielded two candidates and in three of those constituencies the two MDC Alliance candidates together received the most votes. Had the MDC Alliance fielded only one candidate, the party would probably have won (Bulawayo South, Goromonzi West, and Harare South). 56 https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/2018-07-31-tense-count-as-mdc-claim-election-victory-in-zimbabwe/ 59 REPORT ON THE 30 JULY 2018 HARMONISED ELECTIONS ZESN