Last Updated: Thursday, 31 March, 2005, 05:04 GMT 06:04 UK
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Mugabe seeks 'huge' poll victory
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe
President Mugabe is confident of his party's poll triumph
Zimbabweans have begun voting in parliamentary elections in which the ruling Zanu-PF party of President Robert Mugabe is expected to win.

Mr Mugabe has predicted a "huge, mountainous victory".

But human rights groups say the poll cannot be free and fair - suggesting that thousands of dead people are listed on the electoral roll.

The opposition MDC has been allowed to campaign freely, although it says tough security laws mean the poll is rigged.

The Movement for Democratic Change only decided to take part in the election a few weeks ago.

Human rights groups say there has been little violence and open intimidation during the campaigning because media restrictions and security laws mean the damage has already been done.

"Covert intimidation is still rife, as is the culture of fear," said Brian Kagoro of the Crisis in Zimbabwe rights group coalition.

There have been reports of harassment and food aid being denied to opposition supporters.

'Ghost voters'

About 8,000 polling stations opened across Zimbabwe at 0500 GMT. The polls will close at 1700 GMT, and preliminary results are due within 48 hours.


Supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change party rally in Harare

Campaign in pictures
Q&A: Does the poll matter?

Almost six million voters have registered for the poll, but independent researchers suggest hundreds of thousands of them could be ghost voters - duplicated names of dead people whose votes could be fraudulently cast in favour of the ruling party.

The government has dismissed all such reports as groundless.

A small selection of election monitors have been invited to Zimbabwe for the poll.

Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe African national Union-Patriotic Front) is widely expected to win a majority of the 120 seats up for grabs.

A further 30 MPs are appointed by President Mugabe.

A two-thirds majority would allow the party to change the constitution, which correspondents say could be crucial when it comes to planning for the post-Mugabe era.

The 81-year-old president has said he will not seek re-election in 2008.

During the campaigning, he accused the MDC of being a stooge for UK Prime Minister Tony Blair - who has opposed his policy of seizing white-owned land for redistribution to poor black families.

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Zimbabweans go to the polls on Thursday to elect a new parliament, after weeks of colourful campaigning.

President Robert Mugabe says it is an "anti-Blair election", with him standing up to the UK prime minister for the rights of black Zimbabweans.

Mr Mugabe is not standing but has been energetically leading the campaign of his Zanu-PF party.

The police have been accused of harassing opposition supporters but there has been less violence than in past polls.

This opposition Movement for Democratic Change supporter restrains his colleague from confronting Zanu-PF activists.

Controversial former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo is running as an independent after being sacked earlier this year

South African unions are protesting on the Zimbabwe border against harassment of Zimbabwean workers.

Access to food has been a major political issue during the campaign, with the government accused of denying food aid to opposition supporters.

The security forces have vowed to come down hard on any election day violence.

Heather Bennett (r) is contesting the seat of her husband, Roy, an opposition MP jailed for assaulting a minister during a debate in parliament.

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