Large queues as voting gets underway in Zimbabwe

Large queues as voting gets underway in Zimbabwe

DECISION TIME: A Zimbabwean woman votes in Harare on Saturday morning

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ZIMBABWEANS voted Saturday in an election which could bring an end to President Robert Mugabe's 28-year rule as his country buckles under the weight of the world's highest inflation rate.

Large queues had formed outside polling booths by the time they opened at 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT), and the country's 5.9 million voters have 12 hours to choose a president, members of a 210-strong parliament and local councils.

Mugabe, in power in the former British colony since independence in 1980, faced a dual challenge from former finance minister Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

The election takes place as Zimbabwe is grappling with the impact of the world's highest rate of inflation -- officially put at 100,580.2 percent -- and an unemployment level which has breached the 80 percent mark.

Once seen as the region's breadbasket, the country is now suffering from previously unheard of shortages of even the most basic foodstuffs such as cooking oil and bread.

Mugabe however has blamed the country's economic woes on the European Union and United States, which imposed sanctions on his inner circle after he was accused of rigging his 2002 re-election. He has portrayed the election as a chance to stand up against the West.

In comments carried by the state-run Herald newspaper on Saturday, Mugabe said that polling day "must be the day to protect our sovereignty, our independence, our power to make changes, our right to give land to the people."

Makoni, dubbed a prostitute by Mugabe for daring to break ranks with the ruling Zanu PF, was among the first to vote at the Mandara shopping centre in eastern Harare.

"I feel good, I voted for the best candidate, I voted for Simba Makoni," he told AFP.

Makoni struck a bullish note, saying his chances "are very good" and that his final tally should be "more than" his initial prediction of 72 percent.

No reliable opinion polls were conducted during the campaign, although state media has predicted Mugabe would triumph with 57 percent of the vote and avoid the need for a second round run-off within three weeks.

In his final campaign rally on Friday, Tsvangirai was also confident that he would emerge victorious, saying it was time to show Mugabe "the red card".

However the MDC and Makoni have frequently expressed fears that Mugabe will try and fix the outcome in his favour.

They have claimed that the voting register has been stuffed with phantom voters and that Zanu PF has breached a series of agreements on the framework of the vote, including allowing police inside polling booths.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the body overseeing the polls, has dismissed the allegations, saying the register may not be perfect but is credible.

Mathias Chimutsi, who arrived more than three hours before the polling station opened in the upmarket Greendale suburb, said he was voting for Tsvangirai.

"I've been here since five to three this morning," said Chimutsi. "I am here to vote because my belly is empty. I am hoping that things will improve in the country."

Mugabe however will rely in large part on the support of the rural population which has traditionally remained most loyal to him.

In all there are four presidential candidates, 774 parliamentary hopefuls, 197 senator aspirants and 3,431 candidates vying to run local government.

Early preliminary results were expected to start trickling in hours after voting ends, but electoral officials could not say when final results would be declared. - AFP
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