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| Zimbabwe forces 'on full alert' | Zimbabwe forces 'on full alert' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's security forces have been put on full alert amid fears Saturday's election could spark violence similar to that in recent Kenyan polls. | Zimbabwe's security forces have been put on full alert amid fears Saturday's election could spark violence similar to that in recent Kenyan polls. |
| Candidates are on a final day of campaigning, with the two main rivals to President Robert Mugabe raising fears of widespread vote-rigging. | Candidates are on a final day of campaigning, with the two main rivals to President Robert Mugabe raising fears of widespread vote-rigging. |
| Mr Mugabe insists the vote is fair and everyone should abide by the results. | Mr Mugabe insists the vote is fair and everyone should abide by the results. |
| About 1,500 people were killed in violence that followed disputed elections in Kenya in December. | About 1,500 people were killed in violence that followed disputed elections in Kenya in December. |
| Military presence | Military presence |
| The joint chiefs of Zimbabwe's police, army, prison service and intelligence services gathered in Harare to warn that violence would not be tolerated. | The joint chiefs of Zimbabwe's police, army, prison service and intelligence services gathered in Harare to warn that violence would not be tolerated. |
| We have been warned that if we vote Mugabe out, there will be war Villager in Masvingo province Moment of truth href="/1/hi/world/africa/7317323.stm">Hope, despair for bloggers | |
| Augustine Chihuri, commissioner general of the police, said: "The defence and security forces of Zimbabwe are on full alert from now onwards covering the election period and beyond." | Augustine Chihuri, commissioner general of the police, said: "The defence and security forces of Zimbabwe are on full alert from now onwards covering the election period and beyond." |
| He said they would "thwart all threats to national security". | He said they would "thwart all threats to national security". |
| Mr Chihuri also said candidates would not be allowed to declare victory before official results were announced. | Mr Chihuri also said candidates would not be allowed to declare victory before official results were announced. |
| Reports say tanks and vehicles with water cannon are being deployed in parts of the capital. | Reports say tanks and vehicles with water cannon are being deployed in parts of the capital. |
| Mr Mugabe and wife Grace push for votes in Harare | Mr Mugabe and wife Grace push for votes in Harare |
| On Thursday, Mr Mugabe warned opponents not to protest if they lost. "Just dare try it," he said at one of his final rallies. | On Thursday, Mr Mugabe warned opponents not to protest if they lost. "Just dare try it," he said at one of his final rallies. |
| A BBC contributor in Masvingo in south-eastern Zimbabwe says there is an increased military presence and fly-bys by Chinese-made fighter jets. | A BBC contributor in Masvingo in south-eastern Zimbabwe says there is an increased military presence and fly-bys by Chinese-made fighter jets. |
| One 54-year-old villager told him: "We have been warned that if we vote Mugabe out, there will be war." | One 54-year-old villager told him: "We have been warned that if we vote Mugabe out, there will be war." |
| In Masvingo city, one resident said he would not be cowed by intimidation: "We do not mind even if they deploy soldiers at polling stations - it's time for Mugabe to go." | In Masvingo city, one resident said he would not be cowed by intimidation: "We do not mind even if they deploy soldiers at polling stations - it's time for Mugabe to go." |
| Some 100 soldiers armed with assault rifles are also patrolling in the eastern city of Mutare. | Some 100 soldiers armed with assault rifles are also patrolling in the eastern city of Mutare. |
| Voter lists | Voter lists |
| Mr Mugabe, 84, has led the country since independence in 1980. | Mr Mugabe, 84, has led the country since independence in 1980. |
| OPPOSITION POLL CONCERNS Surplus ballot papers printedTens of thousands of "ghost voters"Police allowed inside polling stationsMore polling stations in rural areasState media biasFood aid only given to Zanu-PF supportersChiefs used to campaign for Zanu-PF href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7307576.stm">Campaign in pictures class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7293810.stm">Q&A: Zimbabwe elections | |
| His key rivals for president are Morgan Tsvangirai, the head of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and Simba Makoni, an ex-finance minister and independent candidate. | His key rivals for president are Morgan Tsvangirai, the head of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and Simba Makoni, an ex-finance minister and independent candidate. |
| On Thursday they issued a joint statement expressing severe concerns about the poll. | On Thursday they issued a joint statement expressing severe concerns about the poll. |
| They said they had still not received full nationwide voters' lists that could be verified and suspected there were many thousands of "ghost voters". | They said they had still not received full nationwide voters' lists that could be verified and suspected there were many thousands of "ghost voters". |
| The MDC says that in Hatcliffe, just north of Harare, some 8,000 people had been registered to vote in a small area where there are just 36 houses. | The MDC says that in Hatcliffe, just north of Harare, some 8,000 people had been registered to vote in a small area where there are just 36 houses. |
| The BBC's Southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles, says one major worry is that there may not be enough polling stations in urban areas. | The BBC's Southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles, says one major worry is that there may not be enough polling stations in urban areas. |
| He says there is also concern about equal access to the media. | He says there is also concern about equal access to the media. |
| The government has accused Britain and the US of already having decided that the elections will not be free and fair. | The government has accused Britain and the US of already having decided that the elections will not be free and fair. |
| However, campaigning has been relatively peaceful, with none of the widespread intimidation of opposition activists seen in recent polls. | However, campaigning has been relatively peaceful, with none of the widespread intimidation of opposition activists seen in recent polls. |
| Both Mr Makoni and Mr Tsvangirai have been able to hold rallies across the country. | Both Mr Makoni and Mr Tsvangirai have been able to hold rallies across the country. |
| A total of 5.9 million people are eligible to vote in Saturday's joint local, senate, assembly and presidential polls. | A total of 5.9 million people are eligible to vote in Saturday's joint local, senate, assembly and presidential polls. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYIt's a country without hope with a dictator who will stop at nothing to remain in power.Barry Verona, Ex pat - now CanadaSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYIt's a country without hope with a dictator who will stop at nothing to remain in power.Barry Verona, Ex pat - now CanadaSend us your comments |
| A candidate must win 50% of the presidential vote to avoid a run-off. | A candidate must win 50% of the presidential vote to avoid a run-off. |
| The opposition has been campaigning on Zimbabwe's economic crisis - it has the world's highest inflation rate at more than 100,000% and just one adult in five are believed to have regular jobs. | The opposition has been campaigning on Zimbabwe's economic crisis - it has the world's highest inflation rate at more than 100,000% and just one adult in five are believed to have regular jobs. |
| Mr Makoni, who left the government in 2002, said repairing the economy could take "10 to 15 years". | Mr Makoni, who left the government in 2002, said repairing the economy could take "10 to 15 years". |
| But Mr Mugabe says land and control of economic resources are the main issues. | But Mr Mugabe says land and control of economic resources are the main issues. |
| He blames a Western plot for the economic troubles. | He blames a Western plot for the economic troubles. |
| "The British, the Americans... would rather see our children, the old and the infirm suffer under the weight of their evil sanctions," he said on Thursday. | "The British, the Americans... would rather see our children, the old and the infirm suffer under the weight of their evil sanctions," he said on Thursday. |
| If you are voting on Saturday send us your experiences by text on +44 7786 20 50 85. | If you are voting on Saturday send us your experiences by text on +44 7786 20 50 85. |