The opposition accuses Mugabe of plotting to steal the election and tensions rose Friday with soldiers and police in a convoy of armored personnel carriers with water cannons patrolling through downtown Harare, the capital. The security chiefs warned against violence and police presence at the polls Saturday was heavy.
The economic collapse of what was once the region's breadbasket has been a central campaign issue, with the opposition accusing Mugabe of misrule and dictatorship. Mugabe, appealing to national pride, blames the Westand charges his opponents are stooges of former colonial ruler Britain.
In southern Bulawayo, Moreblessing Ndlovu said he has chosen democracy over dictatorship. "The people of Zimbabwe have had enough of this," he said, his bare feet reflecting his poverty.
"Everyone here is hungry. They want to see a change," Bulawayo said, pointing a snaking line of about 200 people waiting to vote. Some had gotten in line hours before the scheduled 7 a.m. opening.
Running against Mugabe are opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, 55, who narrowly lost the disputed 2002 elections, and former ruling party loyalist and finance minister Simba Makoni, 58. Makoni has shaken up Zimbabwe's politics with his appeal to disillusioned citizens, threatening to take votes from both the opposition and the ruling party.
All three candidates voted early Saturday, with Mugabe telling reporters afterward he would accept whatever results emerged and rejecting opposition charges he had already orchestrated his own victory.
"We are not in the habit of cheating," he said. "We don't rig elections."
Tsvangirai sounded a resolute note, saying: "The people's victory is assured."
Most stations opened after 7 a.m. and people complained the process was slow. But Noel Kututwa, head of the independent Zimbabwe Election Support Network, said voting was going smoothly countrywide.
"It looks like a large turnout so far, and there is some excitement in the air," he said.
His group's monitors reported a heavy police presence at polling stations, allowed under a belated presidential decree that breaks an agreement signed with the opposition. Some fear it could frighten away opposition voters.
There are 9,000 polling stations for 5.9 million voters. Independent democracy watchdogs have complained there were too few stations in urban opposition strongholds, and that they have seen the names of dead of fictitious people on the official voting list, presenting an opportunity for fraud.
Zimbabweans are voting in a single day for the first time for president, 210 legislators, 60 senators and 1,600 local councilors.
Mugabe told a final rally Friday that Saturday's vote would show Zimbabweans' opposition to colonialism. "Zimbabweans are making a statement against the meddling British establishment," he said.
Mugabe called for discipline at the polls despite "provocation from outsiders who are already claiming the elections are not free and fair."
