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Final push in Zimbabwe election Zimbabwe forces 'on full alert'
(30 minutes later)
A final day of campaigning has begun in Zimbabwe's general election, amid opposition fears of widespread vote-rigging in Saturday's poll. 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.
The two main rivals to President Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Simba Makoni, have said there are severe discrepancies in voter lists. 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.
There have been few reliable opinion polls. A candidate must win 50% of the presidential vote to avoid a run-off. About 1,500 people were killed in violence that followed disputed elections in Kenya in December.
Unexplained voters Military presence
Mr Mugabe, 84, has led the country since independence in 1980. The joint chiefs of Zimbabwe's police, army, prison service and intelligence services gathered in Harare to warn that violence would not be tolerated.
Mr Tsvangirai, head of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, and Mr Makoni, an ex-finance minister and independent candidate, on Thursday issued a joint statement expressing severe concerns about the poll.
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 Campaign in picturesRegional campaign round-upQ&A: Zimbabwe electionsOPPOSITION 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 Campaign in picturesRegional campaign round-upQ&A: Zimbabwe elections
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".
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.
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.
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."
Voter lists
Mr Mugabe, 84, has led the country since independence in 1980.
Mr Mugabe and wife Grace push for votes in Harare
His key rivals for president are Morgan Tsvangirai, the head of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, and Simba Makoni, an ex-finance minister and independent candidate.
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.They said they had still not received full nationwide voters' lists that could be verified.
They also believe there has been an unexplained increase in voter registration in rural areas where Mr Mugabe is strongest. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">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 Canada class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=1&forumID=4532&edition=1&ttl=20080327175211&#paginator">Send us your comments
But campaigning has been relatively peaceful, with none of the widespread intimidation of opposition activists seen in recent polls. The BBC's Southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles, says one major worry is that there may not be enough polling stations in urban areas.
Both Mr Makoni and Mr Tsvangirai have been able to hold rallies across the country.
The BBC's Southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles, says another 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 Makoni campaign has targeted the economy
Noel Kututwa, chairman of the independent Zimbabwe Election Support Network, said: "The opposition has only now been able to advertise on the television and in the newspapers, after the first foreign observers arrived.
"So it's only two weeks now that you are getting [a more open media]."
The foreign observers are only from nations the Zimbabwean government considers "friendly", and the West has been largely barred.
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.
It also accuses the MDC of introducing the language of "election rigging" in the country. However, campaigning has been relatively peaceful, with none of the widespread intimidation of opposition activists seen in recent polls.
Protest warning 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.
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">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 Canada class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=1&forumID=4532&edition=1&ttl=20080327175211&#paginator">Send us your comments 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 rate of inflation 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 would be a long task. Mr Makoni, who left the government in 2002, said repairing the economy could take "10 to 15 years".
"This is not about the first six months after March 29 or even the first five years... it could range from 10 to 15 years," he told AFP news agency.
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 they have imposed as part of their desire to effect the regime change in our country," 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.
He also warned his opponents not to protest if they did not win the elections.
"Just dare try it," said Mr Mugabe at one of his final campaign rallies.
"We don't play around while you try to please your British allies."
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.