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| Mugabe 'confident' of sixth term | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says he is confident his ruling Zanu-PF party will win next month's elections. | |
| He was speaking at a rally to launch his campaign for a sixth term in power and celebrate his 84th birthday. | |
| Thousands gathered at the rally in the town of Beitbridge on the border with South Africa. | |
| Launching his manifesto in the eastern town of Mutare, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, said Zimbabwe was bleeding under "dictatorship". | Launching his manifesto in the eastern town of Mutare, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, said Zimbabwe was bleeding under "dictatorship". |
| The presidential, legislative, senate and local council polls are scheduled for 29 March. | The presidential, legislative, senate and local council polls are scheduled for 29 March. |
| Economic crisis | |
| Mr Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980. | Mr Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980. |
| Zimbabwe is suffering an economic crisis, with annual inflation of 100,000%, and unemployment at 80%. There are also severe food and fuel shortages. | |
| Many of Zimbabwe's problems have been blamed by the opposition and Western countries on the policies of President Mugabe. | |
| But he told his supporters that his party would win the elections "resoundingly" and he was ready for a fight with those who criticised his presidency, including President Bush and British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. | |
| "It is the sanctions that they have imposed which have caused a great deal of harm on the economy," he said. | |
| Challengers | |
| Mr Tsvangirai - who leads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - is one of three candidates challenging him in the presidential poll. | |
| The others are independent candidates - former Finance Minister Simba Makoni and Langton Towungana. | The others are independent candidates - former Finance Minister Simba Makoni and Langton Towungana. |
| We're all bleeding, but we're marching on Morgan TsvangiraiOpposition leader Opposition fury | We're all bleeding, but we're marching on Morgan TsvangiraiOpposition leader Opposition fury |
| Mr Makoni, 58, has pledged to turn round the country's economic fortunes if elected. | Mr Makoni, 58, has pledged to turn round the country's economic fortunes if elected. |
| He has been expelled from Zanu-PF, and Mr Mugabe has compared him to a prostitute. | |
| Launching his campaign before thousands of supporters in Mutare, Mr Tsvangirai said: | Launching his campaign before thousands of supporters in Mutare, Mr Tsvangirai said: |
| "All of Zimbabwe is in the custody of a dictatorship. We're all bleeding, but we're marching on. We're weak and with hunger, but we're stronger with anger." | "All of Zimbabwe is in the custody of a dictatorship. We're all bleeding, but we're marching on. We're weak and with hunger, but we're stronger with anger." |
| He said the Zimbabwean economy was "an enclave economy that is uneven, unequal and virtually dead". | He said the Zimbabwean economy was "an enclave economy that is uneven, unequal and virtually dead". |
| "Zimbabwe is one of the world's great humanitarian crises," he said. | "Zimbabwe is one of the world's great humanitarian crises," he said. |
| BBC southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says Mr Mugabe's annual birthday celebration is always a lavish occasion, and the state media have poured adulation on the Zimbabwean president this week. | BBC southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says Mr Mugabe's annual birthday celebration is always a lavish occasion, and the state media have poured adulation on the Zimbabwean president this week. |
| Across the border in South Africa, Zimbabwean exiles have been staging an anti-Mugabe demonstration. | Across the border in South Africa, Zimbabwean exiles have been staging an anti-Mugabe demonstration. |
| Roy Bennett of the MDC addressed the crowd of about 200 exiled Zimbabwean activists. | Roy Bennett of the MDC addressed the crowd of about 200 exiled Zimbabwean activists. |
| "After 28 years, a man who is now 84 years old is having a birthday party. A birthday party while everybody around him is starving and dying." | "After 28 years, a man who is now 84 years old is having a birthday party. A birthday party while everybody around him is starving and dying." |
| Are you in Zimbabwe? Are you taking part in Robert Mugabe's birthday celebrations? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Zimbabwe? Are you taking part in Robert Mugabe's birthday celebrations? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |