3. The Votes, the Delays and the aftermath On March 29th 2008 Zimbabweans voters went to the polls, in the hope of finding a way through the deepening political and economic crisis that had marked the country since 2000. The results of these Harmonised elections for Presidential, Parliamentary, Senatorial and local council seats, announced only after more than a month of waiting, shocked the ruling party into yet another violent response to the electorate. After over a month of delays in the announcement of the results, including a recount of 23 parliamentary constituencies, the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) announced that the combined MDC had won 109 seats, ZANU PF 97, Independent 1, with three seats awaiting a by-election. In terms of the votes cast in the Parliamentary election the results were as follows: Table 1 House of Assembly ZANU PF MDC (Tsvangirai). 1,112,773 1,038,510 45.9% 42.86% Source: Zanj Financial Network 2008. MDC (Mutambara). 203146 8.3% Independent. Total 68449 2.83% 2,422,878. These results show the importance of the combined MDC vote in defeating ZANU PF in the parliamentary vote, notwithstanding the dominance of the Tsvangirai MDC. It is also significant that the failure of the two MDC formations to agree on an election pact before the 2008 election cost them at least ten parliamentary seats through a split opposition vote. The constituencies in which this split vote was apparent included Mutoko North, Chikomba East, Mazowe South, Magunje (Mashonaland), Chirumanzu, Chiwundura, Gokwe Kana, (Midlands), Mutare South (Manicaland), Lupane West and Nkayi North (Matabeleland). As one journalist noted: In these constituencies, ZANU PF won only because the opposition vote had been split between the two factions, and in some cases between three MDC factions, two from the Tsvangirai faction and the other from the Mutambara group. 23 Moreover a further analysis of the provincial votes indicates that ZANU PF still has a majority in the important rural constituencies of Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Masvingo and Midlands, although the MDC Tsvangirai, in particular, has made important inroads into the ruling party’s support in these areas. With regard to the Presidential vote which was finally announced by ZEC on the 2nd May 2008 table 2 shows the results: Table 2: Presidential Results. Morgan Tsvangirai Robert Mugabe 1,195,562 (47.9%). 1,079,730.(43.2%). Source: Veritas 2008. Simba Makoni 207470 (8.3%). Langton Towungana 14,503. (0.6%). Examining the voting patterns since 2000 it is also clear that the number votes cast has dropped since 2000 after a peak in 2002. Interestingly though, whereas the number of votes cast for the two major parties has decreased since the 2002, slightly for the MDC and more significantly for ZANU PF, the number of Independent voters has increased. This is probably due to the brief flurry of excitement in Simba Makoni’s candidacy. 23 “Opposition split propels ZANU PF.” Financial Gazette, 06/04/08. 13