immediately issued a statement distancing itself from Zulu’s comments and denying any reports that Zuma had been in touch with Mugabe about election preparations.28 Thus, after a protracted process of facilitation, and the contested and frustrating experience of an Inclusive Government, the Harmonised Elections went ahead on 31st July 2013. Although there were clear indications that once again the MDCs faced major obstacles in the elections, the extent of ZANU PF’s ‘victory’ shocked many observers. In the Presidential vote Mugabe received 61% of the vote, compared to the 44% he had won in 2008; Tsvangirai’s vote plunged from 48% in 2008 to 33% in 2013. In terms of the parliamentary seats Zanu PF increased its number from 99 seats in 2008 to 159 in 2013, while the MDC‐T’s number dropped from 99 seats in 2008 (with the smaller MDC formation winning 10 seats) to 49 in 2013. Moreover the total number of votes counted increased by 25% between 2008 and 2013, with ZANU PF increasing its share of the vote by 83% between these dates, with the percentage of the MDC‐T dropping to – 2% in this period. The response of the regional and continental bodies to the elections was unanimously favourable, unlike their position in the discredited 2008 plebiscite. SADC declared the poll ‘free, peaceful and generally credible,’ notwithstanding its unwillingness to pronounce it ‘fair’ because of the absence of an electronic voters’ role.29 The AU commended Zimbabwe for ‘a generally peaceful campaign,’ observing that ‘from an historical perspective and in comparison to the 2008 elections, Zimbabwe has made an important transition in the conduct of its elections.’30 Jacob Zuma expressed his ‘profound congratulations’ to Mugabe and urged all parties in Zimbabwe to ‘accept the outcome of the elections as election observers reported it to be an expression of the will of the people.’31 The only dissenting voice in SADC was Botswana, which called for an independent audit of the electoral process.32 However, as in the past Botswana’s dissent was soon brought to heel within the solidarity framework of SADC, and the body went further to elect Mugabe its Deputy Chairperson at its Malawi summit in August 2013. While this position was endorsed by the Chinese and Russian Governments, the elections received endorsement neither from the                                                              28 ‘South Africa regrets unauthorized statements on Zimbabwe.’ www.thepresidency.gov.za 21st July 2013. 29 SADC, Summary Statement of the SADC Election Observation Mission to the Harmonised Elections in the Republic of Zimbabwe held on 31 July 2013. 2 August 2013. 30 African Union, African Union Election Observation Mission to the Harmonised Elections of 31 July 2013, in the Republic of Zimbabwe. Preliminary Statement. 2 August 2013. The same position was taken by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) who congratulated Zimbabwe on ‘the general atmosphere of peace and tranquility’ in the elections, which would go ‘a long way in contributing to the consolidation of democracy in Zimbabwe.’ COMESA Election Observer Mission to the 31 July Harmonised Elections in the Republic of Zimbabwe,’ 3 August 2013. 31 ‘Zimbabwe: Statement by Jacob Zuma.’ www.safpi.org Accessed on 7 August 2013. 32 Statement by the Government of the Republic of Botswana on the 2013 Election in the Republic of Zimbabwe. Gaborone, 5 August 2013.   14