Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party has lost it majority in the Zimbabwean parliament according to results released by the Zimbabwean electoral commission (ZEC) today.

The results show Morgan Tsvangirai faction of the opposition MDC has won 96 seats while the Mutambara's MDC faction won 9. ZANU-PF managed a vastly reduced 94 seats while independent candidate Jonathan Moyo won a single seat.

The results mark a dramatic swing from the 2005 elections when ZANU-PF won an overwhelming majority with 78 seats, leaving MDC trailing with 41 seats. The elections results show the strong support the MDC enjoys in Zimbabwe’s urban centres with string wins in constituencies in the capital Harare and Bulawayo. The MDC also had a strong showing in Manicalalnd, Masvingo and Midlands provinces.

The results will be a boost to the MDC as it awaits the results from the Presidential elections which were held concurrently with the parliamentary ones.