Zimbabwe's security forces went on full alert tonight to quash violence during the most crucial election since independence, with President Robert Mugabe facing the biggest challenge of his 28-year rule.
In one of his last rallies before tomorrow's poll, Mr Mugabe struck a familiar theme, mocking the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and attacking former colonial power Britain.
"This is a vote against the British. The fight is not against the MDC ... the MDC is just a puppet, a mouthpiece of the British," he told 6,000 people on the outskirts of Harare.
Mr Mugabe blames sanctions by Britain and other Western nations for the collapse of the economy in his once-prosperous nation, now suffering the world's highest inflation, at 100,000 per cent, a virtually worthless currency, and food and fuel shortages.
Opponents blame his policies for ruining Zimbabwe. Army and police chiefs say they will not accept an opposition victory, stoking accusations that Mr Mugabe will use the power of his incumbency to rig the election.
Zimbabwe's state-owned Herald newspaper said today an opinion poll indicated Mr Mugabe would be re-elected with about 57 per cent of the vote.
Analysts said this could be a way of preparing the population for a Mr Mugabe victory. The survey itself was not immediately available but it was conducted by a university lecturer regarded as sympathetic to the government. Police chief Augustine Chihuri said today security and defence forces had been put on full alert and would not allow declarations of victory before official results were announced - expected to take several days.
"May we remind everyone that those who think and do evil must fear, for the defence and security forces are up to the task in thwarting all threats to national security," he told a news conference, flanked by army and security chiefs. Voting is due to start at 7am (local time) and end 12 hours later.
Ireland and its EU partners are ready to assist Zimbabwe recover from its humanitarian crisis provided tomorrow's general election begins a period of reform, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said today.
Speaking ahead of a Council of Ministers meeting in Slovenia, Mr Ahern said the presidential, parliamentary and council elections were a "critical" moment for the country.
Mr Ahern expressed disappointment that Western observers were not present. "This places an even greater onus on those, chiefly the African Union and SADC [Southern African evelopment Community] who have been invited to send monitors, to act as the eyes and ears of the international community over the coming critical days," he said.
"Neither Zimbabwe nor its neighbours can afford a continuation of the current political and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe which has left up to one-third of Zimbabweans dependent on food aid and has contributed to over three million Zimbabweans being forced to leave their country."
Ireland and the EU would continue to assist with humanitarian aid and would provide support to "a genuine process of political and economic reform in Zimbabwe".
Fine Gael foreign affairs spokesman Billy Timmins said that if the country embarked on path of reform, some of Ireland's €900 million aid budget should be directed to Zimbabwe and members of the Rapid Response Corps made available.
"If Mr Mugabe is defeated and refuses to accept the result of the election, the International Community must not allow the country to destroy itself," he said.
Mr Mugabe has vowed to crush Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Makoni, both of whom accuse Mr Mugabe of wrecking what was once one of Africa's most promising economies.
Mr Tsvangirai said today would form a unity government including some members of Mr Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party if he wins the election. He told the
Financial Timeshe could not rule out Mr Mugabe stealing victory but would not call for demonstrations as happened in Kenya earlier this year if it occurred.
Additional reporting: agencies