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| Zimbabwean voters elect president | Zimbabwean voters elect president |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| People in Zimbabwe are voting in an election that will decide whether President Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980, wins a sixth term in office. | People in Zimbabwe are voting in an election that will decide whether President Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980, wins a sixth term in office. |
| His challengers are Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC party and ex-finance minister and independent Simba Makoni. | His challengers are Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC party and ex-finance minister and independent Simba Makoni. |
| Correspondents say queues formed early at many polling stations, with voters determined to cast their ballots. | Correspondents say queues formed early at many polling stations, with voters determined to cast their ballots. |
| The MDC fears the poll will be rigged but Mr Mugabe said as he cast his vote in Harare: "We don't rig elections." | The MDC fears the poll will be rigged but Mr Mugabe said as he cast his vote in Harare: "We don't rig elections." |
| I made sure my vote is counted. My vote will contribute towards change to a better Zimbabwe Obvious Zengeya, Hobhouse Latest at a glance href="/1/hi/world/africa/7320153.stm">Quiet determination to vote class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7316712.stm">Moment of truth Zimbabwe's security forces are on full alert amid fears of violence. | |
| BBC Southern African correspondent Peter Biles says Mr Mugabe and Zanu-PF will be relying on support from voters in the countryside, while the MDC is strongest in the cities. | BBC Southern African correspondent Peter Biles says Mr Mugabe and Zanu-PF will be relying on support from voters in the countryside, while the MDC is strongest in the cities. |
| But in recent days it has become increasingly difficult to predict the outcome, he adds. | But in recent days it has become increasingly difficult to predict the outcome, he adds. |
| Polls are scheduled to close at 1900 (1700 GMT) with preliminary results expected by Monday. A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off in three weeks' time. | Polls are scheduled to close at 1900 (1700 GMT) with preliminary results expected by Monday. A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off in three weeks' time. |
| Mugabe's warning | Mugabe's warning |
| Long queues formed at some polling stations before the polls opened at 0500 GMT. | Long queues formed at some polling stations before the polls opened at 0500 GMT. |
| Mr Mugabe blames Zimbabwe's problems on a Western plotOne voter, Sandra, 23, told the BBC by phone from Bulawayo that voting was going efficiently. | Mr Mugabe blames Zimbabwe's problems on a Western plotOne voter, Sandra, 23, told the BBC by phone from Bulawayo that voting was going efficiently. |
| "There is a long queue behind me but it is moving. People around me are quiet and are waiting patiently to cast their vote." | "There is a long queue behind me but it is moving. People around me are quiet and are waiting patiently to cast their vote." |
| Nearly six million people are eligible to vote. | Nearly six million people are eligible to vote. |
| Voters will be confronted with four ballot papers and four separate boxes, for local, senate, assembly and presidential polls. | Voters will be confronted with four ballot papers and four separate boxes, for local, senate, assembly and presidential polls. |
| It was unclear whether they would be colour-coded raising fears of confusion. | It was unclear whether they would be colour-coded raising fears of confusion. |
| Voting is passing off largely peacefully although a petrol bomb exploded overnight at the home of the ruling Zanu-PF party's Mary Nsingo in Bulawayo, injuring the councillor. | |
| ZIMBABWE POLLS - KEY FACTS Some 5.9 eligible votersThey elect president, parliament and local government Nearly 9,000 polling stations Polls opened at 0500 GMT and close at 1700 GMTWinner needs more than 50% to avoid presidential run-off class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7307576.stm">Campaign in pictures class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7293810.stm">Q&A: Zimbabwe elections Mr Makoni was one of the early voters and complained his polling station in Harare opened late and ballot casting was slow. However, he said he was confident. | |
| "I feel good, I voted for the best candidate, I voted for Simba Makoni," he said. | "I feel good, I voted for the best candidate, I voted for Simba Makoni," he said. |
| President Mugabe later cast his vote in Harare and, when asked of his chances, said: "This time around, like the last time, very good. I rate them in the same way, that we will succeed and we will conquer." | President Mugabe later cast his vote in Harare and, when asked of his chances, said: "This time around, like the last time, very good. I rate them in the same way, that we will succeed and we will conquer." |
| Morgan Tsvangirai also said he expected to win as he cast his ballot in the capital. | Morgan Tsvangirai also said he expected to win as he cast his ballot in the capital. |
| "Victory is assured in spite of the regime's attempt to subvert the will of the people," he said. | "Victory is assured in spite of the regime's attempt to subvert the will of the people," he said. |
| 'Puppet' | 'Puppet' |
| On Friday, President Mugabe wrapped up his campaigning at a rally outside Harare with a fresh broadside against Britain and the MDC. | On Friday, President Mugabe wrapped up his campaigning at a rally outside Harare with a fresh broadside against Britain and the MDC. |
| "This is a vote against the British," he told a crowd of 6,000 supporters, calling the MDC "a puppet, a mouthpiece of the British". | "This is a vote against the British," he told a crowd of 6,000 supporters, calling the MDC "a puppet, a mouthpiece of the British". |
| Morgan Tsvangirai said "victory is assured" | |
| The MDC says it is fighting to save Zimbabwe's economy. | The MDC says it is fighting to save Zimbabwe's economy. |
| The country has the world's highest inflation rate, at more than 100,000%, and just one adult in five is believed to have a regular job. | The country has the world's highest inflation rate, at more than 100,000%, and just one adult in five is believed to have a regular job. |
| Mr Mugabe blames a Western plot for ruining the economy. | Mr Mugabe blames a Western plot for ruining the economy. |
| Mr Tsvangirai claims to have made inroads into the president's traditional support base in the countryside. | Mr Tsvangirai claims to have made inroads into the president's traditional support base in the countryside. |
| On Thursday, Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Makoni jointly expressed severe concerns about the polls. | On Thursday, Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Makoni jointly expressed severe concerns about the polls. |
| In a statement, they said they had still not received full nationwide voters' lists that could be verified, and suspected there were many thousands of "ghost voters". | In a statement, 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 president has said the vote will be fair, warning opponents not to protest if they lose. | The president has said the vote will be fair, warning opponents not to protest if they lose. |
| On Friday, the chiefs of Zimbabwe's police, army, prison service and intelligence services warned that violence after the poll would not be tolerated. | On Friday, the chiefs of Zimbabwe's police, army, prison service and intelligence services warned that violence after the poll would not be tolerated. |
| Augustine Chihuri, commissioner general of the police, said: "The defence and security forces of Zimbabwe are on full alert from now onwards." | Augustine Chihuri, commissioner general of the police, said: "The defence and security forces of Zimbabwe are on full alert from now onwards." |
| 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. |