ZESN - Promoting Democratic Elections in Zimbabwe 16. ZESN's Sample Based Observation Results 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 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, 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, on 31 July, ZESN had received reports from all 750 sampled polling stations and had verified and analysed their data. Therefore, the SBO report was based on a 100% response rate. Table 16: ZESN SBO Estimates and ZEC Official Results for the 2018 Presidential Election Presidential Candidate Nelson Chamisa (MDC Alliance) Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF) All Other 21 Candidates Rejected Ballots SBO Estimate 45.8% 50.7% 3.5% 1.4% Margin of Error +/- 2.0% +/- 2.0% +/- 0.2% +/- 0.1 SBO Estimated Range 43.8% to 47.8% 48.7% to 52.7% 3.3% to 3.7% 1.3 % to 1.5 % ZEC Announced Official Results (3 August) 44.3% 50.8% Source: ZESN SBO Press Statement 63 REPORT ON THE 30 JULY 2018 HARMONISED ELECTIONS ZESN