Zimbabweans vote, desperate for change

"I am voting for change. I am praying for a free and fair election. It is the only way this country can move forward," said Richard Mutedzi, 25, a trained mechanic who voted in Chitungwiza, 30 km (20 miles) south of Harare. He said he was forced to sell odds and ends because of lack of work.

Zimbabwe, its once prosperous economy in ruins, is suffering the world's highest inflation rate at more than 100,000 percent, chronic shortages of food and fuel and a rampant HIV/AIDS epidemic that has contributed to a steep decline in life expectancy.

Mugabe, who blames the collapse on Western sanctions, faces the biggest challenge of his 28-year rule from veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and ruling ZANU-PF party defector Simba Makoni. But despite the odds stacked against Mugabe, 84, many analysts believe he will be declared the victor. Both Tsvangirai and Makoni accuse him of plotting to rig the election.

Mugabe oozed his usual confidence when he voted in Harare on Saturday. "We will succeed. We will conquer," he said, denying that he planned to steal the vote. "Why should I cheat? The people are there supporting us. The moment the people stop supporting you, then that's the moment you should quit politics," he said.

FEARS OF RIGGING

The opposition fears many supporters will not have time to vote, saying polling stations have been distributed in favour of Mugabe's rural strongholds. Tendai Biti, secretary-general of Tsvangirai's MDC faction said voting was slow and some election agents were prevented from entering polling stations. He said hundreds of voters were also turned away as unregistered. Despite the fraud allegations, Tsvangirai said he would win. "We are absolutely confident that the outcome will be in the favour of the people," he said as he voted in Harare.

Some people slept at polling stations and queues formed before they opened just after 7.00 a.m. (0500 GMT). Voting was scheduled to last 12 hours, with results not expected for several days. "I want to vote because things are so bad, and maybe this election will help change that," said a 35-year-old security guard who asked not to be named. He had walked for more than two hours to reach his polling station in a Harare township.

Mother of three Gertrude Muzanenhamo, 36, voted early in the poor township of Warren Park, telling reporters: "People are dying in hospitals and funeral expenses are very high. How do you expect us to survive? Shop shelves are empty."

Despite odds stacked against him like never before, analysts say Mugabe has maintained a tight grip on power through a combination of ruthless security crackdowns, intimidation of ruling party rivals and an elaborate patronage system.

LARGELY PEACEFUL

Voting was largely peaceful but police said a bomb exploded in the house of a ruling party candidate in Zimbabwe's second city of Bulawayo, an opposition stronghold. No-one was hurt. "I can't say Zimbabweans are cowards or that they are cautious. They are peace loving people but if Mugabe steals the election there will surely be trouble in this country," red-eyed Leo Kariwo said as he waited to vote in a Harare township.

Mugabe's rivals believe they can finally end his iron rule because of the economic meltdown that has reduced even his traditional and favoured rural strongholds to misery. But the powerful security forces have thrown their backing behind Mugabe, stoking accusations that he will use his incumbent power to rig victory.

Voters on Saturday said police and army units backed by armoured vehicles and water cannons had patrolled overnight. "That is intimidation but we will not be cowed," said Samuel Furutsa in the Harare township of Mufakose.

Some security chiefs say they will not accept a Tsvangirai victory but he said they must be bound by the constitution. "I am not seeking the security chiefs mandate but the people's mandate," he told reporters as he voted.

If no candidate wins more than 51 percent of the vote on Saturday, the election will go into a second round, when the two opposition parties would likely unite.