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Businesses have shut in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, as the nation awaits results from the heavily disputed presidential election.
Armed soldiers and police are on patrol, ordering people to "behave".
Three people were killed in the city on Wednesday in clashes between the security forces and supporters of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.
He says Monday's polls were being rigged to give President Emmerson Mnangagwa victory.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) said there was "absolutely no skulduggery", and it would begin releasing presidential results at 20:00 GMT.
Mr Chamisa insists he has won, and has called on his supporters to await "mass celebrations".
The elections were the first since long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, 94, was ousted in November.
The polls were intended to set Zimbabwe on a new path following Mr Mugabe's repressive rule.
However, Mr Chamisa's MDC Alliance has accused the military of using excessive force to quell Wednesday's protests.
The government has blamed the opposition for the violence
Mr Mnangagwa said the government was in talks with Mr Chamisa to defuse the crisis and proposed an independent investigation to bring those who were behind the violence to justice.
"This land is home to all of us, and we will sink or swim together," Mr Mnangagwa said in a series of tweets.
No violence was reported on Thursday. A truckload of armed policemen and soldiers were driving around the city shouting, "Behave yourself, people of Zimbabwe."
A BBC reporter in Harare says the city centre is like a "ghost town".
Riot police also surrounded the headquarters of the MDC Alliance.
Zanu-PF, in power since the country gained its independence 38 years ago, has won a two-thirds parliamentary majority - and denies allegations of rigging.
By Andrew Harding, BBC news, Harare
Shops are closed and shutters are down as the centre of Zimbabwe's capital braces itself for more trouble.
There is no sign yet of any organised protest by opposition supporters.
Sweeping up a day after the unrest outside the MDC Alliance's HQ
President Mnangagwa has blamed the violence on the MDC Alliance and has now promised an independent investigation.
But the issue at the heart of the trouble has yet to be resolved - the outcome of the presidential election which the opposition is convinced is being rigged.
Foreign observers are pressuring the electoral commission to announce the results quickly - and to address concerns about fraud by being transparent about the entire process.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Zimbabwe's politicians to exercise restraint, while UK foreign office minister Harriett Baldwin said she was "deeply concerned" by the violence.
The US embassy in Harare advised its citizens to avoid the city centre, following Wednesday's unrest.
In a message to Zimbabwe's politicians, it said there was a "historic opportunity to move the country towards a brighter future".
"Violence cannot be part of that process," it added.
China, Zimbabwe's main international ally, said it hoped all sides would put the country's interests first following a "generally peaceful and orderly" election.
The day after the election, the MDC Alliance said Mr Chamisa had won the presidential election, pre-empting an official announcement and prompting its supporters to celebrate in some areas of Harare
When Zec announced that Zanu-PF had won the parliamentary vote by a landslide on Wednesday, things turned nasty.
The opposition supporters were are also angered by the delay in announcing the presidential results.
Home Affairs Minister Obert Mpofu said the government would not tolerate such protests.
The opposition "are testing our resolve, and I think they are making a big mistake", he said.
A spokesman for Mr Chamisa condemned the deployment of soldiers and the subsequent loss of life.
"Soldiers are trained to kill during war. Are civilians enemies of the state?" he asked.
"There is no explanation whatsoever for the brutality that we saw."
Zec has announced all parliamentary results. Although Zanu-PF won by a landslide, it gained fewer seats than in the 2013 election.
More than five million people were registered to vote, and there was a turnout of 70%.
Zec said the verification of the presidential election result was "going very well".
There had been a delay because of the need for party agents to verify the result, it said.
The electoral commission confirmed on Thursday that its website had been hacked, saying it took it down "within 11 minutes" of the attack.
In terms of the law, Zec has until Saturday to announce the result.
A presidential candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win outright. Otherwise, a run-off election will be held on 8 September.
The European Union and Commonwealth missions criticised the delay in announcing the presidential results.
The electoral commission says 70% of registered voters took part in the election
This is the first time in 16 years that the government has allowed EU, Commonwealth and US election monitors into the country.
The Commonwealth said parties should use "all available conflict resolution mechanisms" to resolve differences.
"The electoral process is yet to be concluded. The greatest test of leadership is called for now," its mission said.
