Voters may be faced with confusing ballot papers

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 opposition party and Simba Makoni, a defector from Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF now standing as an independent.

Correspondents say queues formed early at many polling stations, with voters determined to cast their ballots.

The MDC says the poll will be rigged – a charge denied by the government.

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.

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.

Mugabe’s warning

Long queues formed at some polling stations before the polls opened at 0500 GMT.

This time round the whole world is watching and there are chances that it may be very difficult for [Mr Mugabe] to manipulate the will of the people Harare voter At a glance: Zimbabwe vote Moment of truth Hope, despair for bloggers

“I’ve been here since five to three this morning,” Harare voter Mathias Chimutsi told AFP news agency. “I am here to vote because my belly is empty.”

Nearly six million people are eligible to vote.

The BBC’s Grant Ferrett in neighbouring South Africa says the relatively peaceful campaigning could tempt large numbers out to vote.

However, he says there are fears the voting will be chaotic and confusing.

Voters will be confronted with four ballot papers and four separate boxes, for local, senate, assembly and presidential polls.

Mr Mugabe blames Zimbabwe’s problems on a Western plot

It was unclear whether they would be colour-coded.

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.

One voter in Harare, a student, told the BBC previous elections had been rigged but this time it could be different:

“This time round the whole world is watching and there are chances that it may be very difficult for [Mr Mugabe] to manipulate the will of the people.”

‘Puppet’

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”.

ZIMBABWE POLLS – KEY FACTS Some 5.9 eligible voters They elect president, parliament and local government Nearly 9,000 polling stations Polls opened at 0500 GMT and close at 1700 GMT Winner needs more than 50% to avoid presidential run-off Campaign in pictures Q&A: Zimbabwe elections

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.

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.

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”.

The chairman of Zimbabwe’s electoral commission, George Chiweshe, has rejected the claim, saying the voters’ roll was “credible”.

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.

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.