Final rallies by Mugabe and Tsvangirai ahead of poll

(28 Mar 2008)
Highfields, Harare
1. Mid of Mugabe arriving
2. Wide of Mugabe with supporters
3. Mid of Mugabe and wife singing national anthem
4. Close up of Mugabe singing national anthem
5. Mid shot of Mugabe chanting slogan
6. SOUNDBITE: (Shona) Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe:
"We have no worry when we have all these people. We do not know what rigging is. We have the support of the people. The talk of rigging was started by the NBC (Namibian Broadcasting Corporation). The other parties we contested in the past never complained about rigging. We bit them fairly. Surprisingly when they win in their stronghold we accept that and never talk about rigging"
7. Close up of supporters dancing
8. Mid of supporters dancing
9. Mid of Mugabe kicking a soccer ball towards the crowd
Domboshawa
10. Various of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai singing along with crowd
11. Mid of Morgan Tsvangirai chanting a slogan
12. Mid of supporters' hands
13. SOUNDBITE: (Shona) Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement for Democratic Change leader:
"After we vote in the morning let's go home and cook. But around seven pm let's go back to the polling station, because when they count there is no ballot box that should leave the polling station."
14. Mid of placard reading: (English) "We need a leader not a ruler"
15. Supporters clapping hands
16. Mid of Morgan Tsvangirai singing
STORYLINE:
Zimbabweans go to the polls on Saturday to vote for a president who faces a crumbling economy, inflation in excess of 100-thousand percent, and crippling shortages of food, water, electricity, fuel and medicine.
Current President Robert Mugabe, facing the toughest challenge since he won power in 1980, told a rally on Friday that the elections would show Zimbabweans' opposition to former coloniser Britain, whom he accuses of supporting the opposition.
He also denied allegations that the elections would not be free and fair.
"We do not know what rigging is. We have the support of the people," he told the crowd.
With a show of force from soldiers manning armoured personnel carriers and water cannon, Zimbabwe's security chiefs warned earlier on Friday against violence during the vote, as the opposition urged its supporters to defend their ballots against an alleged rigging plot.
Running against Mugabe are opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, 55, who narrowly lost disputed 2002 elections, and former ruling party loyalist and finance minister Simba Makoni, 58.
Tsvangirai on Friday urged supporters at a rally to stay at polling stations until they closed and the counting began, to help prevent rigging.
"After we vote in the morning let's go home and cook. But around seven pm let's go back to the polling station, because when they count there is no ballot box that should leave the polling station," he told about 4,000 people at Domboshawa, a small farming community north of Harare.
Zimbabwe's security chiefs are firmly behind Mugabe. Defence Forces commander General Constantine Chiwenga has said his soldiers will not serve anyone but Mugabe.
In downtown Harare, soldiers on quadbikes and police outriders escorted a convoy of armoured cars and water cannon.
On Thursday, Tsvangirai appealed to soldiers and other public servants not to participate in fraud.
Mugabe also has warned he would crush any anti-government demonstrations.
Mugabe blames Britain and Western sanctions for the ruin of the southern African country that once exported food, tobacco and minerals.
Mugabe also is accused of trying to buy votes by handing out tractors, generators and state-subsidised food.

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