other electoral malpractices as indicated in the reports by EU observers and civil society observer groups. MDC-Alliance’s performance in the parliamentary elections was additionally undermined by its inability to prevent the split of votes in the 13 constituencies where the party fielded multiple candidates.80 ZESN, issued their report on the Sampled-Based Observation (SBO). ZESN concluded that the ZEC’s results are consistent with their SBO projections, falling within the sample estimated ranges. Presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa (MDC-A) received 44.3% of the votes cast as announced by ZEC while the SBO estimate falls at 45,8% with a margin of error of +/- 2.0%. For Candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF) ZEC announced 50.8% of votes cast, while the SBO estimate is 50.7% of valid votes cast. However, the Sample-Based Observation with its projection falling above and below the 50% threshold, did not definitely confirm whether or not there should have been a presidential run-off. B Post-Election Environment Tension in Harare increased dramatically as the first parliamentary results indicated a clear lead for ZANU-PF and, at the same time, MDC-Alliance leaders intensified their accusations that the elections had been rigged. On 1 August a large group of MDC-Alliance supporters gathered near the MDC headquarters (rough estimations point at 3,000 to 4,000 protestors). Some started demonstrating and a number of cars and commuter busses set alight, tyres burned in the streets, stones were thrown and some ZANU-PF billboards were torn down. When a group of protestors reached the vicinity of the ZEC command centre and the ZANU-PF headquarters, the military was deployed to quell the unrest. Soldiers fired live rounds into the crowd81 leaving at least six people dead and 14 injured. The official explanation by the government was that the demonstration was illegal under the Public Order and Security Act and as the police felt overwhelmed with the situation the army was called on for support. Following these events, the international observer missions present in the country, including the EU, issued a joint statement urging calm and restraint and this was followed by a series of meetings with the president, the main opposition candidate and the chair of ZEC to reinforce the message and urge an expeditious and transparent completion of the results process. POSA was also invoked to obstruct a press conference of Nelson Chamisa on 3 August. Riot police, with shields and batons, dispersed the assembled members of the international and local press. The ZRP subsequently issued an apology, explaining that the press conference had been mistaken for a political gathering. The President condemned the behaviour of the police and stated that he was “urgently investigating the matter to understand what has happened”. This has prompted speculation as to who in Zimbabwe was in control of the security forces. Recommendation 19: Amend the Public Order and Security Act to guarantee that if it is invoked it must be ensured that legitimate political freedoms are not denied and that powers afforded to 80 This is particularly valid for the constituencies Bulawayo South and Harare South, where both MDC-Alliance candidates together received significantly more votes than the winning candidate of ZANU-PF. 81 The official explanation by the government is that the police felt overwhelmed with the situation and the army was called on for support. 38